DETROIT -- Matt Moore still hasn¡¯t given up a run as a Tiger, but his knee injury Saturday leaves the Tigers facing a potentially difficult loss.

While the Tigers celebrated a 7-4 comeback win over the Royals Saturday afternoon, the team medical staff was checking out Moore¡¯s right knee to determine the extent of the strain he suffered when he tried to field Billy Hamilton¡¯s third-inning bunt. The team already confirmed he¡¯s headed to the 10-day injured list. The question is how long he¡¯s expected to stay there.

¡°He definitely strained his knee,¡± Gardenhire said. ¡°We¡¯ll have some details on everything tomorrow.¡±

Daniel Norris, who pitched three-plus innings in relief once Moore left, will fill Moore¡¯s spot in the rotation. The Tigers don¡¯t need another starter until next weekend¡¯s series in Minnesota, thanks to Monday¡¯s off-day.

Moore retired Kansas City¡¯s first eight batters in order, striking out the middle of the Royals lineup in the second inning, before the speedy Hamilton laid down a well-placed bunt along the first-base line. Moore slid to field it, struggled to pick it up, then threw the ball away from his knees.

¡°He went to pick it up,¡± Gardenhire said, ¡°and as he turned he felt something in his knee.¡±

Moore stayed in the game to retire Whit Merrifield, stranding Hamilton at second base, but then he walked straight down the dugout steps towards the Tigers clubhouse.

¡°He came in afterwards limping off after the inning, looked like he wasn¡¯t very comfortable,¡± Gardenhire said. ¡°We took him down to the [batting] cage down there and he said, ¡®Let me see what it feels like.¡¯ He went to throw a pitch and it didn¡¯t feel very good. And that was it.¡±

Norris quickly began warming and replaced him for the fourth.

Moore has tossed 10 scoreless innings and given up just three hits this season, including seven scoreless innings in a no-decision last Sunday at Toronto. The 29-year-old, signed to a one-year contract as a free agent last fall, has been an early surprise for a Tigers rotation that ranks among the league leaders so far this season.

¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s more disappointed than anybody in the world,¡± Gardenhire said, ¡°because he was feeling really good and throwing really good. Now we¡¯ll give him some time. They¡¯ll let us know how much time and we¡¯ll go from there.¡±

With Norris slotting back into the rotation, the Tigers are expected to call up a reliever to fill Moore¡¯s roster spot. The easiest move would be to activate right-hander Drew VerHagen, who opened the season on the injured list with a right forearm strain but threw a perfect inning for Class A Advanced Lakeland on Friday to begin a Minor League rehab assignment.