April 25 – Miguel Batista vs. Dana Eveland
April 26 – Erik Bedard vs. Justin Duchscherer
April 27 – Felix Hernandez vs. Joe Blanton

Game 1 players to watch:

Conquering hero(s): Ichiro (.326 lifetime against Oakland), Raul Ibanez (14 career homers against Oakland, t-2nd for most against a single team), Yuni Betancourt (.297 lifetime against Oakland), Richie Sexson (slugging .585 against pitchers of Eveland’s style) and, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Willie Bloomquist (2 career homers against Oakland, his most against any one team).

Achilles’ heal(s): Miguel Batista (5.23 ERA against Oakland)

Game 2 players to watch:

Conquering hero(s): Ichiro (.333 against Duchsherer [24 AB]; I think we’ll see his name here quite a bit)

Achilles’ heal(s): Just about everyone else: Beltre, Sexson, Betancourt, Johjima, Vidro, Lopez and Ibanez (combined 8/33 [.242] against Duchsherer)

Game 3 players to watch:

Conquering hero: Felix Hernandez (6-2, 2.10 ERA vs. Oakland), Jose Vidro (.357 career hitter against Blanton), Yuni Betancourt (.946 OPS lifetime against Blanton), Kenji Johjima (.346 average lifetime facing Blanton)

Achilles’ heal: Richie Sexson and Brad Wilkerson (hitting just .167 vs. Blanton)