Cleveland (7-15) at Oakland (12-10)

As Miguel Tejada’s struggles loom, Oakland Athletics manager Ken Macha is thinking about resting his star shortstop.

But that’s exactly what the reigning AL MVP doesn’t want.

Macha plans to discuss the matter with Tejada before the Athletics open a three-game set against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.

“I’m going to be in there (Friday), I’m going to be in there every day,” said Tejada, who has played in 454 straight games—the longest active streak in the majors. “I’m not going to keep going 0-for-4 or whatever. I’m going to find my swing and I’m going to start hitting.”

Tejada is 1-for-17 over his last four games, including an 0-for-4 effort in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Detroit—his second straight 0-for-4 game.

His performance in the field is also slipping. Tejada has seven errors through 22 games, after committing 21 or fewer in each of the past four seasons.

However, he insists a day off won’t help him overcome the poor start.

“It’s not going to help me to sit out,” said Tejada, who’s hitting .160. “I don’t want to be taken out. He’s the manager and can do what he wants.”

Cleveland matched its worst start in franchise history at 7-15 after Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners capped a three-game sweep. The Indians have also dropped seven of nine.

The sweep was the Seattle’s first over Cleveland since taking three straight from July 9-11, 1993, at the Kingdome.

Casey Blake went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer for the Indians, breaking his 0-for-9 slump.

STANDINGS: Indians - 4th place, 10 1/2 GB, AL Central. Athletics - 2nd place, 2 GB, AL West.

INDIANS PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Davis (2-2, 6.97 ERA). After losing his first two games of the season, Davis has won two straight. In Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox, the 22-year-old right-hander yielded three runs and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings. Davis makes his first career start against Oakland.

ATHLETICS PROBABLE STARTER: Ted Lilly (1-0, 3.24 ERA). After winning his first start of the season, Lilly hasn’t figured into the decision of any of his three subsequent outings, despite allowing just seven earned runs over 17 2-3 innings. The 27-year-old left-hander yielded one unearned run and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings Sunday, but Oakland suffered a 2-1 loss to Texas. Lilly is 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA in four career starts against Cleveland.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Indians - Milton Bradley, .375 avg. and 16 runs; Karim Garcia, 5 HRs; Ellis Burks, 13 RBIs; Brandon Phillips and Matt Lawton, 2 SBs. Athletics - Ramon Hernandez, .365 avg.; Terrence Long, 5 HRs; Erubiel Durazo, 21 RBIs; Durazo and Eric Chavez, 14 runs; Chavez, 2 SBs.

SEASON SERIES: Athletics, 4-2.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Indians - OF Burks went 2-for-4 Thursday and is batting .364 (20-for-55) with three homers and 10 RBIs over his last 14 games. … SS Omar Vizquel went 3-for-5 to stretch his hitting streak to nine games, during which he is hitting .366 (15-for-41) with one homer and four RBIs. … LHP Brian Anderson was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday and replaced by LHP Billy Traber. Anderson is day-to-day with a strained right hamstring. Athletics - OF Jermaine Dye, who broke his left leg during the 2001 playoffs, left Thursday’s game because of discomfort in his right knee. Dye said he doesn’t consider the injury serious and expects to be out only one or two games if at all. … A’s starters are 5-2 with a 1.79 ERA over the last seven games after going 0-4 with a 6.94 ERA over the previous six games. … DH Durazo went 1-for-3 Thursday and is batting .379 (11-for-29) with two doubles, two homers, five runs scored and nine RBIs over his last eight games.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Indians - 4-8 on the road; Athletics - 9-3 at home.

INJURIES: Indians - RHP Jason Bere (shoulder), 15-day DL; LHP Cliff Lee (abdominal), 60-day DL; RHP Bob Wickman (elbow), 60-day DL; RHP Mark Wohlers (elbow), 60-day DL; INF Ricky Gutierrez (neck), 60-day DL. Athletics - none.