Alfredo Simon is off to the best start for a Detroit Tigers pitcher in 27 years and he's making it look easy.
Simon looks to become the AL's first five-game winner Thursday night when the Tigers face the Kansas City Royals for the first time since narrowly beating them out for a division title last year.
Simon (4-0, 1.65 ERA) has settled into his new club rather impressively after coming over from Cincinnati in an offseason trade. He's the first Tiger to win his first four starts of a season since Frank Tanana won five in a row in 1988.
"I don't even look at that," Simon said, "because the ERA and the wins, sometimes you pitch a good game and you don't win. Every time I go out there I just try and do my job, try to win the game."
The right-hander has been outstanding over the last three starts, yielding two runs in 22 innings while pitching into at least the seventh inning in each.
"To be honest with you, I haven't caught anybody like Simon. He's unique," catcher Alex Avila told MLB's official website. "It's like he's playing wiffle ball out there. Nothing will affect him."
That seemed to be the case Saturday, as Simon battled through 111 pitches in 6 2/3 innings but yielded one run in a 4-1 victory over Cleveland.
"He just ... he just doesn't look like he breaks a sweat out there," manager Brad Ausmus said.
Simon hasn't faced the Royals since 2011 with Baltimore.
The Tigers (15-7) enter this four-game set having won four of five after overcoming a four-run deficit to beat Minnesota 10-7 on Wednesday. Nine of their 17 hits went for extra bases - including four homers - with Miguel Cabrera going 3 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs.
"We're always in a game," said second baseman Ian Kinsler, one of six players with at least two hits. "I think it helps our pitchers that they understand that, that as long as they can keep us close and keep us in the game we've got a chance to win.
Detroit won eight of 10 at Kansas City last season, batting .319 and averaging 6.6 runs. That dominance was a big reason why the Tigers finished one game ahead of the Royals (14-7) for their fourth consecutive Central crown.
Despite that success, Cabrera went 7 for 37 (.189) with 10 RBIs at Kauffman Stadium in 2014.
The Royals open a seven-game homestand trying to improve on their 7-2 record there. They settled for a split of a six-game road trip with Wednesday's 7-5 loss to Cleveland, but they nearly suffered a far greater blow when Alcides Escobar was hit in the head by a Danny Salazar pitch in the fifth.
Escobar suffered a bruised left cheek and had a headache, but didn't go to the hospital or have X-rays. His status for this game is uncertain.
"It hit straight on my helmet, and I was real dizzy when it happened," the shortstop said. "I feel OK, not bad, way better than when I got hit."
Danny Duffy (1-0, 4.15) seeks a fourth consecutive effecting outing for Kansas City. After struggling in his season debut, the left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his last three starts. He allowed one unearned run over 5 1/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox on Friday and left in line for the win before the Royals lost 3-2.
Duffy is 1-6 with a 3.42 ERA in nine career starts against the Tigers, losing all five decisions over six home meetings.
