(Sports Network) - Nate Robertson will try to get the Detroit Tigers out of their current funk this evening, when he takes the ball in the finale of a three-game series versus the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.

Robertson will make his second start in a month, having been demoted to the bullpen in late August following a string of poor showings, and is 7-10 with a 6.15 earned run average in 31 games (27 starts) this season. In a 17-4 win at Texas his last time out on September 17, the bespectacled hurler gave up three runs through 2 2/3 frames of relief.

In his most recent start, Robertson did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 loss to Oakland on September 9 after he gave up one run in seven innings.

The left-hander, who has lost his last two decisions, is 0-0 in three outings against the Royals this season -- all Detroit losses -- and owns a 4-5 mark and a 5.70 ERA in 13 lifetime meetings (11 starts) with Kansas City.

Detroit has dropped five straight and 11 of its last 12 games, including Tuesday's 5-0 setback in the second test of this series. Tigers starter Freddy Garcia was charged with seven hits, including three homers, and all five runs over five innings to absorb the loss. Garcia also fanned six batters in his second start of the year.

Jeff Larish, Marcus Thames, Magglio Ordonez and Edgar Renteria all recorded hits for the Tigers.

Kansas City has won two straight and 10 of its last 12 games. Ryan Shealy and Alex Gordon both finished with two hits, including home runs, and two RBI to lead the way on Tuesday. Mike Aviles also homered and ended with a pair of hits for the Royals, who also got great pitching from starter Zack Greinke.

Greinke hurled seven shutout innings of four-hit ball while striking out four and walking two batters. He helped the Royals stay a percentage point ahead of the basement-dwelling Tigers in the AL Central.

Brian Bannister gets the nod for the Royals on Wednesday and he is only 1-10 in his last 15 starts. He fell to 8-16 in 31 starts this season after a performance versus the Chicago White Sox on September 19, when he yielded seven runs in five innings of a 9-4 loss.

Bannister has pitched fairly well against the Tigers this season, going 1-1 in two starts. He last faced them on August 22 and gave up four runs in eight innings of a 4-3 loss. Bannister beat Detroit on April 2 with seven shutout innings.

The right-handed University of Southern California product is 3-2 with a 2.48 earned run average in five career starts against the Tigers.

Kansas City has won 10 of its 17 matchups with the Tigers this season, but Detroit has won seven of the last 11 encounters.