A day after Simon said he pitched hurt all season, Tigers' head trainer Kevin Rand clarified the situation by explaining Simon has patella tendinosis, a chronic knee condition the team knew about before they acquired him in trade, reports MLive.com. Patellar tendonosis is also known as jumper's knee.

"If it was an injury, he wouldn't have been pitching with it," Rand said. "If it was a structural injury, he would not have been pitching." Simon had an up and down season, and after Friday's outing, he blamed the inconsistencies on the left knee issue. Specifically, he said it reduced his velocity at times and meant he couldn't keep the ball down with regularity. He's headed to free agency this offseason and this little tiff probably did him more harm than good. He returned to Detroit on Saturday to get a platelet-rich plasma injection, just as he did after pitching for the Reds last season.

Simon (13-12) gave up two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in Friday's loss to the White Sox.

Simon had one of his better outings in recent months on Friday, registering just his fifth quality start in 17 tries since July 1. After having a solid but unspectacular first three months of the season, registering a 3.57 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 6.6 K/9, the veteran fell hard during the season's second half with a 6.31 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 4.80 K/9.

Simon (13-11) surrendered eight hits, four earned runs and a walk in eight innings in a 6-2 loss to the Twins. He struck out four.

Simon actually rebounded nicely from one of his worst starts of the season to post his second-longest outing of 2015. Among the positives for the veteran right-hander on Saturday were the fact that he did not yield any gopher balls and that he only surrendered one walk, while throwing 75 of his 111 pitches for strikes. In spite of the generally strong performance, Simon took the loss, reaching double figures in that category for the second consecutive season. His current 1.47 WHIP is also the third highest of his career, while his 3.37 BB/9 rate is his highest since 2010.

Simon allowed 13 hits, three walks and eight earned runs in 4.1 innings of Sunday's loss to the Royals. He struck out three and three of those hits were home runs. It's the sixth time since July 1 that he has given up at least six runs in a game.

It was a forgettable outing for Simon who matched his career high in runs and earned runs (eight for both). And he was just two hits shy of matching his career high (or should we say, career worst) in hits allowed. He allowed the five of the first seven batters he faced to reach base and needed 26 pitches to get out of the first.

Simon earned his 13th win Tuesday against the Twins as he allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.

Simon has been brutal since July, and he still owns an awful 6.33 ERA and a 46:33 K:BB in 14 starts since then. The quality start was just Simon's third in that span. His ERA sits at 4.94 as his All-Star appearance last year looks like a one-hit wonder.

Simon (12-9) gutted out 6.2 innings Thursday, giving up five earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out five in a 7-5 loss to the Indians.

Simon was susceptible to the long ball Thursday, giving up solo homers to Abraham Almonte and Michael Brantley. Despite throwing seven shutout innings in his previous outing, Simon has now allowed 19 earned runs in his last four outings. Simon frequently pitches to contact, leading to hazardous results when his control eludes him. The 34-year-old will look to rebound against the Twins on Tuesday.

Simon (12-9) blanked the Indians over seven innings in Saturday's 6-0 defeat, surrendering two hits and four walks. He struck out five.

After surrendering 14 earned runs over 9.1 innings in his two previous starts, the good Simon made an appearance at Comerica Park on Saturday, blanking Cleveland for the second consecutive time. The 34-year-old has exemplified the "when he's good, he's really good" adage this season, having surrendered only five hits in 24 shut-out innings over the three games in 2015 where's he's gone at least seven innings without giving up a run. A key factor in Saturday's impressive outing was Simon's ability to keep the ball in the park after surrendering four gopher balls to the Blue Jays on Aug. 30. Walks continue to be a pervasive problem for veteran right-hander however, with the four free passes he surrendered on Saturday bringing his season total to 59 in just over 153 innings pitched. Simon's control problems undoubtedly play a key factor in the mistrust his owners have each time he takes the mound.

Simon took a no-hitter into the sixth inning Saturday and finished with just two hits allowed in 7.0 innings against Cleveland. He gave up four walks and struck out five.

He threw 112 pitches, 68 of which were strikes. It was a complete about-face from his start last Sunday when he gave up a career-high four homers. The effort was a great rebound from his previous two outings -- he had dropped two straight and given up 14 runs in just 9.1 innings.

Simon (11-9) took the loss Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks with a hit batsman while striking out two over five innings.

Simon was bombed for four homers in the first four innings and fell behind 6-0 in a game the Tigers were blown out in. He's now given up at least four runs in five of his last six starts, moving his ERA to 5.09. He'll make his next start Saturday against Cleveland.

Simon (11-7) threw a one-hit shutout against the Rangers on Thursday, walking two and striking out five.

This start encapsulates the maddening nature of owning Simon in fantasy; that is to say, hardly anyone did after he gave up four or more runs in nine of 10 outings entering Thursday's action. Sometimes, Simon turns out these stunning gems, but they've been rare diamonds lost in a sea of awful outings -- he'd walked more batters than he'd struck out over his last five games. It's awfully hard to trust him against the Angels next week.

Simon (10-7) took the loss against Houston on Friday, surrendering four runs on six hits and four walks over five innings while striking out two.

After a solid first three months of the season, Simon has just pitched just one quality start since July 1. During that period of eight starts, Simon has posted a 7.38 ERA.

Simon allowed nine hits and six earned runs in 6.2 innings Saturday and did not pick up a decision.

Despite the Tigers' win, Simon was shaky in his latest outing. His six earned runs were the most he's allowed since July 1, and his ERA spiked to its highest mark (4.74) since April 10. Despite not having picked up a loss in since early July, Simon hasn't been his best self in his last four starts, and he only has nine strikeouts in his last 24 innings.

Simon (groin) has been confirmed as Saturday's starter against the Red Sox.

As expected, Simon will return Saturday after being skipped the last time through the rotation due to a groin injury. The right-hander limited Boston to one run over six innings on July 25, but that was his lone quality start in his last nine outings.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon will start Saturday against the Boston Red Sox after recovering from a groin injury, according to the team's official website.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon will start Saturday against the Boston Red Sox after recovering from a groin injury, according to the team's official website. Simon allowed just one run over six innings in his last start against the Boston Red Sox on July 25.

Simon (groin) is expected to start Saturday against the Red Sox, MLive.com reports.

Manager Brad Ausmus decided to skip Simon the last time through the rotation, providing the right-hander with three extra days of rest to treat the groin issue. Simon is fully expected to toe the rubber Saturday opposite Wade Miley, but the right-hander makes for an especially risky option given he still may not be 100 percent.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon is expected to start Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox after missing his last scheduled appearance due to a groin injury, according to MLive.com.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon is expected to start Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox after missing his last scheduled appearance due to a groin injury, according to MLive.com. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus afforded Simon an additional three days of rest while reshuffling the rotation.

Simon (groin) thinks the three days of extra rest he has had will help him recover in time to make his next start which is scheduled for Saturday, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Running hasn't bothered him, but he does feel some discomfort "when I push" as he opens his leg to throw. He'll continue to rest and get treatment every day before his scheduled start -- he doesn't throw bullpens, so don't be alarmed that you don't see or hear reports of successful side sessions.

Simon is dealing with a sore right groin and will delay his next start until Friday against the Red Sox, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Simon's injury doesn't seem to be anything serious but the Tigers will take precautionary measures to prevent the pitcher from sustaining something more debilitating. In order to make room for the delayed start, Buck Farmer and Anibal Sanchez will move ahead in the rotation one day.

Simon (10-6) had a bizarre start against the Orioles on Thursday, giving up four runs on two hits in 5.2 innings, but gaining the win.

Simon was mostly ineffectively effective, but both the hits he allowed went over the fence for two-run homers. Aside from a good start against Boston his last time out, he's been getting worse as the season's gone on -- over Simon's last eight starts, he's given up a stunningly awful 37 earned runs in 40 innings. With his next matchup against the first-place Royals on tap for Wednesday, fantasy owners need to be looking in a different direction.

Simon (groin) has been confirmed as Thursday's starter against the Orioles.

A groin strain forced Simon off the hill in the seventh inning Saturday, but it seems he showed enough during his between-starts bullpen session to get the green light from the training staff. Simon has struggled throughout the season and has been especially bad on the road, posting a 5.57 ERA, .304 BAA and 35:22 K:BB in 53.1 innings.