By Jason Beck
SportsLine Staff Writer

A's-plus

Don't look now, but the Oakland A's are the hottest team in the American League. They're just two games back of the West-leading Texas Rangers. And with an 8-4 record against the East division, they're going for a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays tonight (7:05 p.m. ET).

The A's are fired up over a four-game winning streak. (AP)

The Athletics have tallied 28 hits in taking the first two games of the series, and have scored 40 runs during their four-game winning streak. AL comeback surprise John Jaha has three home runs and 10 runs batted in over the last week, while Jason Giambi is batting .400 with two homers and nine RBI. Moreover, most of this offense has come without much help from preseason Rookie of the Year favorite Eric Chavez. Fellow first-year player Olmedo Saenz's four-RBI outburst Tuesday has benched Chavez at third base for now.

That offense will get a challenge from Toronto starter Chris Carpenter, who has won three straight decisions and hasn't allowed more than three runs in an outing this year. It's the second straight challenging matchup for Oakland starter Gil Heredia, who was roughed up against Boston's Pedro Martinez last Saturday.

Cheaters don't start

The Detroit Tigers will find out Thursday if crime really doesn't pay.

Detroit would have started Brian Moehler for the rubber match of a three-game series against Anaheim (7:05). Only Moehler was ejected from his last start Saturday and suspended 10 days for scuffing the ball with sandpaper. In his place, Bryce Florie steps off the disabled list to make his first start of the season.

Florie's career against the Angels isn't exactly stellar. He's 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA in five games, with his lone win coming in relief. That's in stark contrast to Chuck Finley's career control over Detroit, with 175 strikeouts in 192 career innings despite an 11-10 record.

Finley has allowed three runs in each of his last two outings for a pair of no-decisions.

Baltimore chop

Those can't possibly be the Orioles going for a three-game sweep of the White Sox (3:05), can they?

Baltimore, which needed no late-inning heroics in an 8-0 romp over Chicago Wednesday, could get out the brooms in a three-game series for the first time since early last September against Anaheim. That was also the last time the O's had won consecutive games until Tuesday's series opener. Harold Baines is batting .421 over the last six games with three homers and 10 RBI, including Tuesday's grand slam.

Sox starter James Baldwin is 6-1 lifetime against Baltimore, including 3-0 last year. He'll try to keep Chicago from falling to .500. Sidney Ponson starts for the Orioles.

Rangers (Sele, 3-2) at Red Sox (Saberhagen, 2-1), 7:05 -- The BoSox rank next to last in the AL for homers and RBI.

Mariners (Moyer, 1-4) at Indians (Colon, 3-1), 7:05 -- Jamie Moyer tees up his junk for Tribe hitters.

Pirates (Ritchie, 1-1) at Cardinals (Osborne, 1-2), 7:05 -- The Cards are just 4-5 at home this year.