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ALCS 2014: James Shields will start Game 1 for Royals

By Hayden Kane

James Shields is set to become a free agent after the Kansas City Royals postseason run and while the Royals are expected to try to retain their ace, the Boston Red Sox appear to be the early favorites to land the services of the right-handed starting pitcher. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
James Shields is set to become a free agent after the Kansas City Royals postseason run and while the Royals are expected to try to retain their ace, the Boston Red Sox appear to be the early favorites to land the services of the right-handed starting pitcher. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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James Shields will start Game 1 of the American League Championship series for the Kansas City Royals against the Baltimore Orioles. 

For a while during this year’s American League Wild Card game, it looked like the Royals were only going to get one chance to use James Shields in a big game. For all of the hype that came with the trade to add the man known as “Big Game James,” the Royals might only get one such start out of him, and a failed effort at that.

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One thrilling comeback and a series sweep later, and the Royals are now guaranteed at least two and possibly three chances to use Shields in high-leverage, playoff baseball. There are now at least more two big games for the Royals’ ace, coming after a successful start in the clinching game of the ALDS.

Andy McCullough reports the decision.

Shields is set to hit free agency at season’s end and is considered unlikely to sign back with the Royals. With that being the case, it has to be exciting to all parties to actually get something close to their money’s worth on this partnership with a run of postseason starts.

Not that he particularly seems to care, but this bails out Royals’ manager Ned Yost a little bit. He faced a lot of heat for removing Shields with just 88 pitches in the American League Wild Card game.

Had the Royals lost that game, the vitriol directed at Yost would have been nasty, with the decision to pull Shields at the top of the list of grievances. Now Yost has the chance to start Shields and let him carry the team in their biggest games yet in the ALCS.

In his two postseason starts in 2014, Shields has a 4.91 ERA in 11.0 innings pitched. He has struck out 12 batters and issued four walks. Somewhat alarming is the fact that he has already allowed three home runs, something that does not bode well against the Baltimore Orioles if that trend continues.

Big Game James actually gets to keep pitching big games for the Royals, starting Friday in the ALCS.

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