Orioles at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics look to rebound from a disappointing start to their 10-game homestand when they begin a three-game set against the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Monday. The Athletics were pounded 9-2 in the series opener against last-place Seattle, scored 11 times to win ib Saturday and coughed up a one-run lead in the late innings of a 6-3 setback in the finale of the matchup between American League West rivals.
Khris Davis homered for the third time in seven contests on Sunday and Marcus Semien extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games with a single for Oakland, which went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Mike Fiers looks to continue his strong work when he takes the mound for the Athletics in the series opener while the Orioles counter with Andrew Cashner, who shares the team lead with six victories. Baltimore owns the worst record in the majors (21-50) after suffering five straight losses - a slide during which it has allowed a total of 48 runs. Trey Mancini entered Sunday's 8-6 loss to Boston in 10 innings tied for fourth in the AL with 81 hits and recorded two more, including his 16th homer of the season, as he extended his hitting streak to six games.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (6-2, 4.73 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Mike Fiers (6-3, 4.63)
Cashner makes his first start since June 8, when he developed a blister, and is unbeaten in his last four outings. The 32-year-old TCU product allowed one run and four hits over six innings against Houston last time out and has recorded four quality starts in his last six turns. Matt Olson is 3-for-5 with two homers and a double versus Cashner, who yielded four runs over 5 1/3 frames against Oakland on April 8 but recorded the win in his third start of the year.
Fiers is unbeaten in his last seven starts, a stretch that began with a no-hitter against Cincinnati on May 7. The 34-year-old Floridian has served up seven homers in his last six starts but has posted a 2.82 ERA during the unbeaten streak while winning four of those outings - including each of the last two. Chris Davis and Jonathan Villar have homered against Fiers, who is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four career starts versus Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles OF Anthony Santander has gone 9-for-23 with three RBIs over his last six contests and is batting .351 in 10 games this year.
2. The Athletics have surrendered an AL-high 51 stolen bases and registered just 25 in 38 tries, ranking them 13th in the AL.
3. Baltimore has a better record on the road (12-22) than at home (9-28), which includes a 1-3 mark when it hosted Oakland from April 8-11.