The real Los Angeles team is coming to Oakland for a 3-game series, it will be the the first time since 2006 the Dodgers have played in the Coliseum.  The Los Angeles Dodgers (42-25) are currently are 6-4 in their last 10 games and are 3-3 against our division rivals this season so far.   The Dodgers have put together a nice season for themselves, they have the best record in baseball right now and are 2nd in the league in team ERA, quality starts and BAA.

The last time the A’s faced the Dodgers was in 2009, they lost 2 of 3 in Dodgers Stadium.

Tuesday 7:05 PM PST: (RHP) Aaron Harang (5-3) Vs Brandon McCarthy (5-3)

• Aaron Harang is coming off a decent start against the Philadelphia Phillies, over 7 innings he allowed 2 unearned runs on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 5.  This will be the first time the former A’s pitcher has faced Oakland in his 11 year career.
• Brandon McCarthy was scratched from his last scheduled start due to a shoulder ailment that has been bothering him all season. The last time McCarthy started was on June 7th against the Texas Rangers, he pitched 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 3 hits while walked none and striking out 5.

Wednesday 7:05 PM PST: (RHP) Nathan Eovaldi (0-2) Vs (LHP) Tom Milone (6-5)

• Nathan Eovaldi will be making his 5th start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night.  Despite only allowing 1 earned run over 6 innings in his last start he was handed a no decision against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  Eovaldi has a 1.82 ERA over 24.2 innings on the season with a 0.7 HR/9 and 6.6 SO/9 rate.
• Tom Milone’s struggles on the road continued in his last start against the Colorado Rockies.  Milone only lasted 4 innings, allowed 7 hits, 8 runs and walked 4, but thanks to the A’s offense, was credited with a no decision.

Thursday 12:35 PM PST: (LHP) Clayton Kershaw (5-3) Vs (RHP) Jarrod Parker (3-3)

• The reigning NL Cy Young award winner will face the A’s for the second time in his career.  He lasted 6 innings in his last start, which was against the Chicago White Sox, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7.
• Jarrod Parker was stellar in his last start.  He did not allow a run through 7 innings at hitter friendly Coors field, while also only allowing 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 6.  Parker made his MLB debut against the Dodgers, he did not allow a run through 5.2 innings.

Keys to Success: 

The A’s offense has picked up a lot in the month of June, however the Dodgers have one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball right now, so they really need to keep finding ways to score early and to score often.

The good news for the A’s is Matt Kemp will be missing this series as he is still on the DL with a hamstring injury.  The bad news is there is still no news on Yoenis Cespedes’s return who has not played in a game since June 13th, also because of  a hamstring injury.