OAKLAND vs. MINNESOTA 8/26/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The Oakland Athletics have lost just one of their last 20 series and can win their 17th during that stretch when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the finale of a four-game set on Sunday. Jonathan Lucroy belted a three-run homer – the 1,300th blast in franchise history – and finished with four RBIs as the Athletics earned a 6-2 victory on Saturday, improving to 44-16 in their last 60 contests.

Oakland has won two of three in the series despite watching major-league home run leader Khris Davis (39) go 1-for-16 in his last four contests, and sits 1 1/2 games behind first-place Houston in the American League West while holding a four-game lead for the AL’s second wild card. Chris Bassitt is expected to be summoned from the minor leagues to make the start for the Athletics on Sunday while the Twins send ace Jose Berrios to the mound. Minnesota, which is 39-28 at home, has managed just three runs in its last two games after averaging six over the previous 10 contests. Veteran Joe Mauer, who is 6-for-16 in his last four games, needs one run to join Hall-of-Famers Kirby Puckett and Harmon Killebrew as the only players in Twins history to score 1,000 times.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.38 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.69)

Bassitt will be recalled to make the start as manager Bob Melvin pushes his rotation back a day to give all the starters rest for the stretch run. The 29-year-old native of Ohio won his last two decisions in the majors, including a triumph on July 11 in which he tossed five innings of three-run ball at Houston, before returning to the minors. Bassitt, who has gone 5-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts) at Triple-A Nashville, worked two scoreless frames of relief the last time he met Minnesota in 2015.

Berrios limited the Chicago White Sox to one run on four hits and two walks over five innings without receiving a decision last time out after two rough outings. The 24-year-old Puerto Rican began his four-game unbeaten streak by limiting Kansas City to two runs in seven frames before giving up eight over 7 2/3 innings in his next two outings. Berrios, who will face Oakland for the first time, is 8-2 with a 3.13 ERA at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota 3B-DH Miguel Sano broke out of a 0-for-18 slump with a solo home run in Saturday’s setback.

2. The Athletics are 23-10 and own a 2.96 ERA since the All-Star break, which leads the majors.

3. Lucroy is 43-for-126 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 36 career games against the Twins.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, Athletics 3