(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Tigers were picked by just about everyone to make the playoffs this season. However, things have not gone as planned and the Tigers will have to settle for playing the role of spoiler when they open a three-game series with the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox are lucky to still be sitting at the top of the division after losses in four of their last five games. Chicago is certainly happy to see the Toronto Blue Jays leave town after dropping three of four to them, including Thursday's 6-4 setback.

Jim Thome clubbed a two-run homer, while Jermaine Dye added a two-run double in the loss for the White Sox, who own a one-game lead over Minnesota in the division.

The Twins fell to the Royals, 3-2, in 10 innings on Thursday.

Gavin Floyd (15-7) allowed four runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings to take the loss, snapping his career-best five-game winning streak. He had been unbeaten in nine starts since a July 19 setback to Kansas City.

Hoping to get the White Sox back on track tonight will be young lefty John Danks, who is 10-8 with a 3.44 ERA, but is winless in his last four starts. Danks did not get a decision on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as he allowed two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 frames of his team's 3-2 loss.

Danks has faced the Tigers five times and is 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA.

The Tigers, meanwhile, enter this series after dropping the final two games of their three-game series with the Oakland Athletics, including a 5-2 setback in Wednesday's finale at Comerica Park.

Ryan Raburn drove in both the runs while Armando Galarraga (12-6) got the loss for giving up five runs on eight hits in four innings of work for the Tigers, who have lost four of seven.

Detroit will pin its hopes tonight on hard-throwing right-hander Justin Verlander, who is 10-15 with a 4.78 ERA. Verlander did not factor in the decision of his team's 6-4 win on Saturday in Minnesota, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Verlander has lost to the White Sox four times already this season and is 2-8 lifetime against them with a 6.01 ERA in 13 starts. He is also 0-5 with a 6.14 ERA in seven starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox have won nine of their 15 meetings with the Tigers this season, including four of six in the Windy City.