SCOUTING REPORT: The Athletics are in a fight for a playoff berth and, in particular, the top spot in the West with the Rangers and Angels.
Rays manager Lou Piniella can't find a flaw with any of the teams but is giving his edge, for the moment, to the A's.
"I think with their starting pitching, they're probably the favorites," Piniella said. "And they can hit. You don't realize how good of a hitting team they are."
Though no one slugger stands out, the A's have seven players with at least 10 homers and five with at least 17. Meantime, the starting rotation of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson, Mark Redman and Rich Harden is, arguably, the best in baseball.
The Rays will see Redman, Hudson and Mulder in this series.
LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Rays pitcher John Halama pitched for the A's last season. ... A's pitcher Jim Mecir was an original Ray and played at Eckerd College.
SEASON SERIES: The A's took two of three at Tropicana Field in May, then took two of three at the Trop last week. The Rays are 17-46 all-time against Oakland, including 11-43 since Sept. 5, 1998. This is the Rays' only trip to Oakland this season. They are 6-24 at Oakland and have won three of the past 14 there.
