(Sports Network) - Southpaw Scott Kazmir pitches for a piece of Tampa Bay franchise history tonight when the Rays take on the visiting Baltimore Orioles in the opening test of a three-game weekend series at Tropicana Field.

A former first-round draft pick of the New York Mets - 15th overall - in 2002, Kazmir can guarantee the Rays their first above-.500 record with their 82nd win of the season in game No. 133.

Tampa Bay had never won more than 70 games in any one season prior to this year, which now finds them atop the American League East Division - 4 1/2 games ahead of the defending world champion Boston Red Sox.

Kazmir reached the majors with the Rays in 2004 and has scored double-digit wins in three straight seasons since, including a career-high 13 victories in 34 starts in 2007.

He got within one win of another double-digit effort on Aug. 17, allowing four hits and two runs in six innings of Tampa Bay's 7-4 victory at Texas.

Kazmir is 5-1 in 10 home starts with a 2.51 earned run average in 57 1/3 innings.

For the Orioles, right-hander Jeremy Guthrie is trying to regain the momentum of an eight-start stretch between July 4 and Aug. 13, in which he went 6-1 with a no-decision.

He's dropped two consecutive starts since, allowing 12 hits and seven runs in 13 2/3 innings against the Red Sox and New York Yankees.

The 29-year-old Oregon native faced the Rays three times in the season's first two months, losing twice and getting a no-decision over 18 1/3 innings while being touched for 21 hits and eight earned runs.

He is 6-4 with a complete game and a 2.92 ERA in 14 road starts in 2008.

On Thursday in St. Petersburg, Willy Aybar's solo home run in the sixth inning proved to be the difference, as Tampa Bay clipped Toronto, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game set.

Cliff Floyd also homered and drove in the other two runs for the Rays, who took the final two games of the series and have won four of six overall.

Edwin Jackson (11-8) went seven-plus innings, allowing six hits and one run with two strikeouts. Dan Wheeler fanned two in his relief inning, earning his 10th save.

On Wednesday in Baltimore, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar all homered as the Orioles avoided a sweep by routing Chicago, 11-3, in the finale of a three-game set at Camden Yards.

Brian Roberts was 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Orioles, who snapped a five- game skid. Juan Castro was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI while Luke Scott and Lou Montanez were also 2-for-3 with two runs scored each.

Radhames Liz (5-3), making his second start since returning from a stint in the minors, allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win.

Tampa has won eight of its 11 meetings with the O's this season, including five of the six matchups in St. Petersburg.