(Sports Network) - California-born right-hander James Shields can equal a career-best in wins today, when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

Shields, a 26-year-old, reached the big leagues and made 21 starts for Tampa Bay in 2006, going 6-8. He became a full-time member of the rotation last season and won 12 games in 31 starts, a number he can match today after beginning this season with an 11-8 mark through his first 27 outings.

The stakes have been raised for the entire team as well after Tampa Bay guaranteed its first winning season in franchise history with victory No. 82 on Friday, then maintained its 4 1/2-game edge over Boston in the American League's East Division with a come-from-behind 10-9 win on Saturday.

Shields last pitched on August 26 in Toronto, dropping a 6-2 verdict after allowing nine hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings. He had gone four starts without a loss heading into that outing, including defeats of Seattle and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and is 5-3 in his last 10 starts overall.

He has already faced Baltimore three times in 2008, winning once and getting two no-decisions while being touched for 20 hits and seven earned runs in 21 innings.

The Rays are 3-0 in those games.

Baltimore lefty Brian Burres makes his second start since returning from a stint in the minors.

The 26-year-old Oregon native was ripped for 17 hits and 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings in his final three outings in late July before heading to Triple-A as the Orioles shook up their pitching staff.

He returned on August 26 to face the Chicago White Sox and gave up 10 hits and five runs in five innings of an 8-3 loss.

Burres has met the Rays three times in 2008 as well and has surrendered 12 hits and nine earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, Tampa Bay squeezed out a 10-9 victory over the Orioles. Rocco Baldelli's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a wild win in the middle contest of this three-game set from Tropicana Field.

The Rays have taken the first two games of the series and have won four straight overall.

Aubrey Huff hit a three-run homer for the Orioles, who have lost five of their last six.

Tampa has won 10 of its 13 meetings with the O's this season, including seven of the eight matchups in St. Petersburg.