Verlander is 11-4 with a 2.26 ERA. He enters this start in Kansas City tied with the Angels’ Weaver in wins. But Verlander leads the American League in innings (143.1), strikeouts (138) and WHIP (MLB-best 0.88). He has allowed a total of six runs in his past eight starts. And until a 1-0 loss Tuesday, Verlander had won nine consecutive decisions, including a no-hitter and a game in which he didn't allow a hit until the eighth inning.

The guy is a workhorse. If Verlander throws 114 pitches Sunday — he averages a major league-high 116.3 a start — he'll reach 10,000 in-game pitches since the beginning of the 2009 season. He threw 304 more pitches than anyone else in the majors in '09 and missed leading the majors last season by five pitches. Verlander has thrown more consecutive 100-pitch games than anyone else since 1999, the earliest year that pitch count data is complete. That streak is at 37 straight starts, which began on June 27 of last year. The last time he didn't make it to 100 pitches was June 22, 2010 against the New York Mets. And the only reason he didn’t make it then was that he was pulled after a long rain delay. If Verlander had thrown just 39 more pitches that game, he would be at 50 straight starts with 100. He is 11-2 in his career vs. Kansas City with a 2.47 ERA.

It should be a mismatch as the Royals start lefty Jeff Francis (3-9, 4.69). He struck out four and did not walk a batter while holding the White Sox to two runs on seven hits over six innings in his last start. He took a loss at Detroit back on May 13, allowing three runs on seven hits in eight innings.

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