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Royals Announce James Shields As World Series Game 1 Starting Pitcher

By Bryan Rose

Oct 5, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields (33) reacts against the Los Angeles Angels after the final out of the top of the sixth inning in game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields (33) reacts against the Los Angeles Angels after the final out of the top of the sixth inning in game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost confirms James Shields will start Game 1 of the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.

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In a move that should surprise nobody, the Kansas City Royals have announced that James Shields will be their Game 1 starter in the 2014 World Series.

Shields, often referred to as ‘Big Game James’ has taken the hill as the Royals lead starter in just about every big game they’ve faced this season and will continue that tradition in the biggest game the franchise has experienced in nearly three decades.

While the San Francisco Giants have yet to officially announce their Game 1 starter for the 2014 World Series it’s all but certain ace Madison Bumgarner will get the call. He, like James Shields for the Royals, has been the pitcher routinely relied upon in the postseason for San Francisco and will be coming off regular rest.

As for James Shields, he last pitched on October 10th against the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series though wasn’t his normally effective self as he littered ten hits and gave up four earned runs in five innings of work.

Through three postseason starts, which includes the Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics, Shields has given up ten earned runs in total during 16 innings of action. He’ll certainly need to improve upon that against the San Francisco Giants if he’s to lead the Kansas City Royals to their first World Series victory in 29-years.

If there is a sliver lining for ‘Big Game James’ it’s that Shields has faced the San Francisco Giants once already this season, throwing an impressive four-hit, complete game shutout though in fairness that was in early August. Clearly much has changed for both teams since that time.

Shields and the Kansas City Royals will host the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the 2014 World Series on Tuesday evening.

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