KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whether or not they acquired Johnny Cueto, the Kansas City Royals were going to win the American League Central.
However, the prospect of what the right-hander might do in October has the fan base — and the team — excited.
Cueto showed what he can do in his Kauffman Stadium debut as a Royal on Monday. He threw a four-hit shutout, beating the Detroit Tigers 4-0.
The Royals, who widened their gap over the second-place Minnesota Twins to 12 games, traded for Cueto on July 26 to have a No. 1 starter they could throw against other No. 1s in the playoffs.
“That’s what an ace does,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said.
Cueto was spectacular. He walked none, struck out eight, and nary a Tiger went beyond second base.
“The way he did it tonight, it’s fun to watch,” Hosmer said. “He really keeps you in the game with all the different leg kicks he’s doing and the way he mixes in his pitches with different leg kicks.
“If you pay attention early on, he would kind of hold his leg up a long time and throw fastballs out of that, and (he) started mixing in breaking balls out of that same leg kick or … motion. He’s pounding strikes and keeps you on your toes as a defender.
“He really messes with your time as a hitter and you can’t get comfortable in the box. Even if he doesn’t do it, you still have in the back of your mind he might do it. It’s just not a comfortable at-bat.”