(Best E Casino) - With a possible hurricane looming, the top two teams in the American League start a three-game series this evening, as the Tampa Bay Rays welcome the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to Tropicana Field.

Tonight's tilt is not expected to be affected by Tropical Storm Fay, but the final two games could be impacted if the storm, which is projected to reach Florida's Gulf Coast on Tuesday, becomes a hurricane.

Tampa, of course, has been the surprise of baseball this season and enters tonight's potential playoff preview with a 4 1/2-game edge on the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

Injuries this past week to Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Troy Percival did not slow them any, as the Rays took two of three this weekend from the Texas Rangers and have won seven of their last nine.

On Sunday, Scott Kazmir was convincing on the mound, while B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena both homered to lead Tampa Bay to a 7-4 victory in the finale of the three-game set in Arlington. Upton and Pena both finished with three RBI, while Jason Bartlett accounted for the other RBI in the win.

Kazmir (9-6) gave up just two runs on four hits while fanning seven and walking four over six innings of work. Dan Wheeler came in to record the final out and earned his fifth save of the season in the process.

Getting the nod for the Rays tonight will be right-hander Andy Sonnanstine, who has won his last two decisions and is unbeaten in his last three starts. Sonnanstine picked up the win on Wednesday in Oakland, as he held the Athletics to a pair of runs and six hits in six innings to run his record to 12-6 on the season, while lowering his earned run average to 4.35.

Sonnanstine received a no-decision earlier in the year against the Halos, but is 0-1 in two starts against them with a 6.00 ERA.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, has more than enough breathing room in the AL West, where they hold a comfortable 15 1/2-game lead on the Texas Ranges. The Angels, though, enter this series on the heels of their first series loss to an AL team since getting swept by the Rays back in mid-May.

Cleveland took two of three from the Angels over the weekend, including a 4-3 win in Sunday's finale at Progressive Field.

LA starter Joe Saunders was touched for three runs on eight hits through five innings while taking a no-decision for his effort. Justin Speier (1-6) allowed the eventual game-winner in his 1 1/3-inning relief appearance for the loss.

Mark Teixeira had two hits and an RBI while Erick Aybar was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored for the Angels, who have lost three of their last four, but still own the best record in baseball at 76-46.

Hoping to get LA back on track this evening will be righty Jon Garland, who is 11-7 with a 4.26 ERA. Garland won for the third time in his last four starts on Tuesday against Seattle, as he gave up three runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Garland has faced the Rays 10 times over the course of his career and is 5-1 with a 3.03 ERA. He did not get a decision against them back on May 11, but was sensational, scattering four hits over eight scoreless innings in a game eventually won by Tampa.

Tampa Bay has won four of its six games with the Angels this season.