(Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics hope to gain some ground in the American League West race on Monday when they begin an important four-game series with the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. . Mondays tilt is the first of seven meetings between the teams over the final 10 games. The As, who trail Texas by four games in the division, may catch a break as Rangers superstar Josh Hamilton is still recovering from a sinus problem that had been impacting his vision. He hasnt played since Tuesday. The As salvaged the finale of their three-game series with the New York Yankees on Sunday, as Cliff Penningtons RBI single in the sixth inning proved to be the difference in a 5-4 win. Texas is 6-6 against the As this season with four of those wins coming in Arlington. Sale aims to end Chicagos skid vs. Tribe Chris Sale eyes his 18th win and tries to help the Chicago White Sox snap a five-game losing streak on Monday when they open a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago was swept this weekend by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but was able to maintain sole possession of first place in the American League Central thanks to Detroit losing two of three to hapless Minnesota. With 10 games to go, the White Sox hold a one-game lead on the Tigers and will now turn to Sale, who is in the AL Cy Young Award mix with a 17-7 mark and 2.82 ERA. Chicago is 8-4 versus the Indians this season. Pettitte, Yankees begin series with Twins The Minnesota Twins seemed to relish their role as spoilers this past weekend. On Monday they get another chance at a potential playoff team when they open a three-game set with the New York Yankees at Target Field. Minnesota lost the opener of its series with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, but managed to sweep both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday, taking the first game, 10-4, before winning the night cap, 2-1, in 10 innings. On Monday, though, the Twins go up against the American League East-leading Yankees, who have beaten them in 25 of the last 31 meetings. Plus they face Andy Pettitte, who has won nine straight decisions - including the playoffs - against the Twins and hasnt lost to them since April 30, 2001. Pettitte returned from the disabled list to toss five scoreless innings and beat Toronto on Wednesday, as he improved to 4-3 to go along with a 2.97 ERA. It was his first start since a line drive fractured his leg back on June 27. New York was denied a series sweep over the Oakland Athletics and had a seven- game winning streak stopped on Sunday, as it dropped a 5-4 decision after taking the first two games of the set in extra innings. The Yankees still lead the division by a game over the Baltimore Orioles. Verlander takes ball in opener versus Royals Ace right-hander Justin Verlander kicks off the regular seasons final week for the Detroit Tigers as they pursue a playoff spot in the opener of a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. The Tigers enter the second to last Monday of the season in a tight race in the American League Central Division, where they trail the Chicago White Sox by a game. Detroit is unlikely to earn a postseason slot via a wild card. It trails the current wild card leaders - Baltimore and Oakland - by seven and six games, respectively. Verlander, the ALs reigning Cy Young Award winner and MVP, has won three of his last four starts since an uncharacteristic four-start winless drought, defeating the White Sox, Cleveland and Oakland around a loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Tigers have won seven of the first 11 games between the teams in 2012, though Kansas City swept a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium from Aug. 28-30. Detroit won the 2011 season series, 11-7. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-trumaine-johnson-jersey-za... Johnson Jersey . Canada will play for bronze. Deep into second half extra-time stoppage time, Morgan found space in the box and got on the end of a cross from midfield substitute Heather OReilly to head the USA into the championship game against Japan. . -- Canadas James Hinchcliffe earned his first IndyCar podium finish Sunday thanks to his teammates mistake. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-greg-zuerlein-jersey-xs-46... . The San Francisco Giants will need that trend to continue on Sunday if they want to even their best-of-five National League Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-jake-long-jersey-wk-38.htm... Long Jersey . Liriano reached an agreement on a two-year deal worth around $14 million on just before Christmas, pending a physical. Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington did not get into specifics about the nature of the injury, only saying the team remains in contact with Liriano. . Yunel Escobar had a big day against New York on Wednesday, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, two runs scored, a home run and five RBI in Torontos 8-5 win. Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind and Jeff Mathis each drove in a run to help the Jays take two out of three matchups with the Yankees following a seven-game skid.HAIFA, Israel - Fernando Llorente and Gaizka Toquero scored in either half Wednesday to give Athletic Bilbao a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Kiryat Shmona in a Europa League game that was postponed last week because of security reasons. The win lifted Bilbao out of last place in Group I, past the Israeli club, but neither team has a chance of advancing to the knockout round. Llorente scored the opener in the 34th minute, slotting in thee rebound after Toqueros close-range effort from a corner was blocked. [url=http://www.ramsofficialteamstore.com/autographed-nolan-cromwell-jersey-ly-5... Cromwell Jersey. Toquero then netted the second in the 76th when a free kick by Ibai Gomez was deflected into his path and he sent a shot past goalkeeper Daniel Amos. The match was originally scheduled for last Thursday but was postponed before a ceasefire was called following eight days of violence between Israeli forces and the Hamas group in Gaza. ' ' '