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(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers continue a season-opening homestand that has unexpectedly gotten off on the wrong foot when the Chicago White Sox invade Comerica Park this afternoon for the start of a three-game series.

Tabbed by many as one of the preseason favorites to represent the American League in this years World Series, Detroit began its 2008 campaign by dropping three straight contests at home to the Kansas City Royals, a team that has lost at least 93 games in each of the last four years. Even more surprising was the output of the Tigers' star-studded lineup in the series, as the offense mustered only five runs against Kansas Citys young arms over the course of the three games.

After getting shut down by the Royals' Brian Bannister in Wednesday's 4-0 loss, Zack Greinke kept the Tiger bats quiet with a sensational mound performance to lead Kansas City to a 4-1 decision in yesterdays finale. Greinke yielded just one run on six hits over seven innings to outduel Detroit starter Jeremy Bonderman, while Alex Gordon belted a two-run homer in the fourth frame to provide all the support Greinke would need. Mark Teahen added a solo blast later on to help the Royals to their first 3-0 start since 2003.

Brandon Inge spoiled Greinke's shutout bid with a solo homer in the seventh for the Tigers, who are off to their worst beginning since the dreaded 2003 season, when the team started off 0-9 en route to setting an AL record with 119 losses.

Bonderman worked the first 6 1/3 innings and allowed all four runs on eight hits while managing just one strikeout.

The Tigers played Thursday's contest without standout third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who was scratched from the lineup with a sore left quadriceps. The team then got more bad injury news during the game, as slugger Gary Sheffield tore a tendon in his left ring finger while sliding into second base in the eighth inning. Both players are not expected to play in today's tilt.

Detroit will attempt to reverse its fortunes this afternoon behind left-hander Nate Robertson, who seeks to turn around a disappointing 2007 season in his first start of the year.

After winning a career-best 13 games and recording a solid 3.84 earned run average in the Tigers 2006 AL championship season, Robertson slipped to 9-13 with a 4.76 ERA last year. The gritty southpaw did pitch well in a pair of starts against Chicago, however, registering a win and a no decision while allowing five earned runs in 13 total innings.

For his career Robertson is 5-6 with a 4.88 ERA in 16 starts versus the White Sox.

Chicago began this season with two straight defeats to defending AL Central winner Cleveland, but salvaged the series finale with a 2-1 victory on Thursday. Joe Crede's tie-breaking solo home run in the top of the eighth inning provided the winning margin as the White Sox avoided their first 0-3 start since 2003.

Juan Uribe also homered for Chicago and starting pitcher John Danks teamed with relievers Octavio Dotel, Scott Linebrink and Bobby Jenks on a two-hitter. Danks went 6 2/3 innings and gave up just one run on a pair of hits before giving way to Dotel (1-1), who got the final out of the seventh with two runners in scoring position to preserve a 1-1 tie.

Linebrink retired the side in order in the eighth and Jenks tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his first save of 2008.

Chicago will hand the ball to Jose Contreras in today's opener. Like Robertson, the Cuban veteran is coming off an underachieving season in which he tied for second in the majors with 17 losses and produced a lackluster 5.53 ERA.

The White Sox are hoping Contreras can return to his 2006 form, when the 36- year-old went 13-9 with a 4.27 ERA in 30 starts and made the AL All-Star team.

Contreras is 8-6 with a 4.33 ERA in 19 career starts against Detroit but struggled mightily when facing the Tigers last year. In three 2007 outings against todays opponent, Contreras went 0-2 and surrendered 19 runs, 26 hits and five homers in 18 total innings.

Chicago won 11 of 18 meetings with the Tigers last year, including six of the nine encounters held at Comerica Park. Since 2005, the White Sox have posted a 19-9 record in Detroit.