(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Tigers try to hang a seventh straight loss on the Kansas City Royals this evening, when the two AL Central rivals play the middle test of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Detroit added to Kansas City's misery on Friday, as Justin Verlander threw almost seven shutout innings and Miguel Cabrera belted a pair of home runs to help the Tigers to a 4-3 win.

Placido Polanco ripped an RBI double while Matt Joyce finished 1-for-4 with a double and run batted in for Detroit, which has won three of four.

Verlander (10-13) allowed eight hits and three walks, while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings to take the win. The right-hander has not given up an earned run in his past two starts, both wins.

Brian Bannister (7-13) threw eight innings and allowed only five hits, but was tagged with all four runs to absorb the loss for the Royals. He walked three and struck out just two.

Ross Gload finished 4-for-4 and John Buck went 2-for-4 with a triple and knocked in a run for Kansas City, which has dropped nine of 10 in addition to its six-game slide.

Getting the call for the Tigers tonight will be righty Zach Miner, who is coming off a horrendous outing in his last start. Miner was hammered by the Baltimore Orioles for five runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings on Sunday. However, he did not factor in the decision of his team's 16-8 loss and remained at 6-4 on the year, although his earned run average rose to 3.94.

Miner defeated the Royals back on July 21 and is 1-2 in his career against them with a 5.85 ERA in nine games, three of which have been starts.

Kansas City, meanwhile, will rely on righty Kyle Davies, who is back with the Royals after being optioned to the minors back on August 15. Davies lost his last two big league starts and was 5-4 with a 5.71 ERA before being send down.

Davies has faced the Tigers three times and is 1-2 with a 4.02 ERA against them.

Kansas City has won six of its 10 matchups with the Tigers this season. However, Detroit swept a three-game set from the Royals in KC from July 21-23, the last time the teams faced off.