A trip to Tampa rarely has looked as daunting as the one the Oakland Athletics make this week, because the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays and their nine-game home winning streak await Oakland's arrival.
The Rays wrapped up a four-game sweep of Seattle with a 4-3 win Thursday to improve to 12-1 at home, where they haven't lost since a 5-4 defeat against Minnesota on April 20. Tampa Bay has won five straight overall and 11 of 12.
The A's will need to snap Tampa Bay's hot streak at home to move above .500 for the first time since May 18, 2011. Oakland moved to the break-even mark with a 4-2 win Wednesday at Boston, taking two of three from the Red Sox.
As if beating the Rays at home weren't tough enough, the A's will have to try to do it against left-hander David Price, who is 23-14 in his career at Tropicana Field and his 2.78 ERA there is more than a full run lower than his ERA on the road.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSNCA (Oakland), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Tyson Ross (1-1, 6.48 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (4-1, 2.67 ERA)
After beginning the season with back-to-back quality starts, Ross was tagged for nine runs on 11 hits over four-plus innings Saturday at Baltimore. In his only appearance against the Rays, Ross allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning in a relief stint in 2010.
Price has won his last three starts, including a five-hit shutout of the Angels on April 24. On Sunday at Texas, he held one of the majors' top offenses to two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out six. The 26-year-old ace has had mixed results in four starts against Oakland, going 1-1 with a 4.44 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays have won five straight series since losing three of four at Boston from April 13-16.
2. Oakland OF Coco Crisp has been safe on 27 consecutive stolen base attempts, one short of Stan Javier's franchise record set in 1995.
3. Oakland 2B Jemile Weeks is expected to be back in the lineup Friday after missing Wednesday's game with tightness in his groin. Weeks is 2-for-4 with a triple against Price.