Slade Cecconi pitched a career-high seven innings and Emmanuel Clase escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 3-0 victory over the Athletics in the rubber game of their series Sunday. Cecconi (3-3) allowed six hits and a walk in his seventh start for Cleveland after making 17 for Arizona over the previous two seasons. Clase gave up a walk and singles to Tyler Soderstrom and JJ Bleday to load the bases before finishing for his second straight save and 18th in 21 opportunities.

Jack Perkins has been one of the top pitchers in the Athletics' minor league system this season, and on Sunday he earned a promotion to the major leagues. Prior to Sunday's 1:05 p.m. PT first pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in Sacramento, the team announced it selected Perkins' contract from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. Perkins is not starting Sunday's game, but Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said he is available out of the bullpen, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Perkins' first appearance with the A's will mark his major league debut.

Following a brief spell in Florida, the Detroit Tigers are back home this week for a three-game series against the Athletics. The Tigers have been one of the best teams in baseball since the onset of the season. Thanks to a mixed set of characters and solid pitching, Detroit has also shown that they are one of the top squads in its own ballpark. While they have lost a few games at Comerica Park recently, dropping two of three to the Cincinnati Reds, before winning two of the three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates before hitting the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend.

Cleveland Guardians (38-37, second in the AL Central) vs. Athletics (32-47, fifth in the AL West) West Sacramento, California; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Slade Cecconi (2-3, 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 34 strikeouts); Athletics: JP Sears (5-6, 5.45 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 58 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Guardians -135, Athletics +114; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics and Cleveland Guardians play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series. The Athletics are 32-47 overall and 15-26 at home. The Athletics have a 17-40 record in games when they have given up at least one home run. Cleveland is 38-37 overall and 19-22 on the road. The Guardians are

Luis Ortiz pitched six shutout innings and Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan each had three hits to lead the Cleveland Guardians over the host Athletics.

Nick Kurtz continued his power show with a two-run home run and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Jeffrey Springs allowed three hits in a season-high 7 1/3 innings, rookie Nick Kurtz homered for a third straight game and the Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-1 on Friday night. Springs (6-5) struck out six and walked one, throwing 104 pitches for his first win since May 13. Kurtz followed a two-out single by Brent Rooker with his 10th home run — a 406-foot shot to left-center field — to give the Athletics the lead against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-7).

Cleveland Guardians at Athletics Preview

Cleveland Guardians (37-36, second in the AL Central) vs. Athletics (31-46, fifth in the AL West) West Sacramento, California; Friday, 10:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Tanner Bibee (4-6, 3.79 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 65 strikeouts); Athletics: Jeffrey Springs (5-5, 4.52 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 66 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Guardians -125, Athletics +105; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Athletics host the Cleveland Guardians on Friday to open a three-game series. The Athletics are 31-46 overall and 14-25 at home. Athletics hitters have a collective .418 slugging percentage to rank fifth in the majors. Cleveland has gone 18-21 on the road and 37-36 overall. The Guardians are 25-5

Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer off closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Willie McIver launched his first major league homer and drove in two runs for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson also connected on solo shots as the A’s won their fifth in seven games.

The Athletics are in last place in the American League West and have had trouble filling the minor league stadium that is their temporary home in Sacramento. The move to Las Vegas is coming soon, which should mean a rejuvenated fan base. On Thursday night, the Athletics jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the Houston Astros. In the process, Jacob Wilson continued his strong play.

The Athletics are in last place in the American League West and have had trouble filling the minor league stadium that is their temporary home in Sacramento. The move to Las Vegas is coming soon, which should mean a rejuvenated fan base. On Thursday night, the Athletics jumped out to a 4-1 lead over the Houston Astros. In the process, Jacob Wilson continued his strong play.

As the Houston Astros (43-31) gain more separation in the American League West — led the Seattle Mariners by five and a half games entering Thursday night's matchup versus the Athletics, it is becoming easier to overlook their depleted pitching staff. And that cannot happen. Although Joe Espada's club continues to excel with more than half a dozen hurlers on the injured list, sustaining success in this state is hard to fathom. Reinforcements are essential. Fortunately, one player just made critical progress. Astros right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, threw in his first live batting practice , according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. He

Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini hit three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning, and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night. Framber Valdez (8-4) limited the A's to two runs and five hits in six innings to help the Astros win for the seventh time in eight games.

Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini hit three-run home runs in a seven-run sixth inning and the Houston Astros had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday night. Framber Valdez (8-4) limited the A's to two runs and five hits in six innings to help the Astros win for the seventh time in eight games. Cam Smith and Jake Meyers had three hits apiece, and Yandy Diaz and Mauricio Dubón each added two.

Series finale tomorrow

Astros at Athletics Preview

The Athletics are poised to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, and these are two players they should deal before then.

A trade proposal would move Athletics reliever Mason Miller to the Boston Red Sox.

Houston Astros (42-31, first in the AL West) vs. Athletics (30-45, fifth in the AL West) West Sacramento, California; Wednesday, 10:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Framber Valdez (7-4, 3.10 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 96 strikeouts); Athletics: Luis Severino (2-6, 4.47 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 61 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -162, Athletics +136; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros play the Athletics after Cam Smith's four-hit game on Tuesday. The Athletics have a 30-45 record overall and a 13-24 record in home games. The Athletics rank seventh in the majors with 92 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game. Houston is 42-31 overall and 15-18 on the road. The Astros have a 33-13