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(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays hope their name change translates into some wins, as they kick off their 2008 campaign with the opener of a three- game set against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Beaten down by 10 years as the go-to punching bags of the American League's East Division, the powers-that-be in Tampa Bay baseball decided to orchestrate their own rebirth. Jettisoning the "Devil Rays" moniker that became synonymous with last-place finishes, the franchise has emerged for 2008 with a new name - just "Rays" - new uniforms and a seemingly new lease on life.

A busy offseason brought much-needed pitching help for both the starting and relief corps, and the maturation of piles of young talent has fans finally anticipating big things on the Gulf Coast.

Carl Crawford and AL Comeback Player of the Year Carlos Pena will once again be counted on to carry the offense. However, duplicating his 46 HR, 121 RBI season from a year ago may be a tall task. Big things are also expected from rising star B.J. Upton, who hit .300 with 24 HR and 82 RBI last season.

Getting the call for the Rays today will be right-hander James Shields, who makes his first Opening Day start. Shields was 12-8 last season with a 3.85 ERA in 31 starts.

Shields has faced the O's seven times in his brief two-year career and is 1-1 against them with a 3.67 ERA.

Baltimore, meanwhile, heads into the 2008 campaign with a significantly different look than last year's team.

Following 10 straight losing seasons, the Orioles are now in a full-fledged rebuilding mode after a 69-93 finish last season, as the team dealt shortstop Miguel Tejada and ace left-hander Erik Bedard for an abundance of young talent this winter.

The Orioles continued to turn the page on their past on Sunday, as they released outfielder Jay Gibbons, who struggled last season with injuries and was abysmal this spring. Gibbons also has a pending steroids-related suspension hanging over his head.

Baltimore will rely heavily on some of its new acquisitions, as outfielders Adam Jones, picked up in the Bedard deal, and Luke Scott, acquired as part of the Tejada ransom, are expected to be a big part of the new-look O's lineup.

Youngsters Adam Loewen and Jeremy Guthrie will headline a makeshift rotation, while Nick Markakis becomes the focal point of the lineup. All in all, though, Dave Trembley's crew could be in for a long season.

Guthrie gets his first Opening Day assignment this afternoon, as he tries to improve upon his 7-5, 3.70 ERA season of a year ago. Guthrie is 2-1 lifetime against the Rays with a 4.78 ERA in five games, three of which have been starts.

Baltimore, which has won its last seven home openers, won 11 of its 18 matchups with the Rays last season and is 36-19 against them since the start of the 2005 season.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Orioles' 1983 World Series championship, former general manager Hank Peters will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Rick Dempsey, the MVP of that Fall Classic.