James

Shields

Shields, 37, is coming off a 4.53 ERA and 154/78 K/BB ratio over 204 2/3 innings last season with the White Sox. He’s not a difference-maker at this point and there’s a reason he’s remained on the market for so long, but he could eat some innings for these clubs. Something could move here in the next couple of weeks, but fantasy owners don’t need to pay attention to him at this point.

The 37-year-old hurler threw a 60-pitch bullpen session with simulated inning breaks for scouts last week in San Diego, where he reportedly toched 92 mph with his fastball. Shields lost a league-leading 16 games in 2018, but still logged 204 2/3 innings for the White Sox while registering a a 4.53 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. While he’s probably good enough to latch on to the back-end of a rotation someplace, his days of fantasy relevancy are long gone.

He’ll receive a $2 million buyout and hit free agency. It’s a no-brainer move after Shields put up a 4.53 ERA (93 ERA+) with 34 homers allowed in 204 2/3 innings this past season.

Shields gave up five hits and walked three, with a pair of solo homers in the third inning the only runs against him. That’s been his bugaboo -- he’s now given up 33 dingers in 198 2/3 innings -- but he’s done remarkably well to limit the damage, even with those homers. To that end: since the beginning of August, Shields has seven starts, out of nine, in which he’s allowed three or fewer runs. He’ll get another shot at these same Indians next week when the Tribe visits Chicago.

Shields struck out five on the night while walking only one. Trey Mancini was personally responsible for all of the damage done against him, blasting a pair of solo home runs in the second and fourth innings respectively. With the White Sox all but certain to decline his $16 million option for 2019, Shields is looking to finish his White Sox tenure on a high note. He’ll carry a 4.53 ERA and 1.30 WHIP into Thursday’s start against the Indians in Cleveland.

Shields has allowed three runs or fewer in half of his 14 starts, but his poor outings have left him 4-6 with a 4.99 ERA. He’s not going to be a very good play against the Blue Jays next time out.

Shields again posted fine peripherals with six strikeouts and one walk, but that two of the eight hits were homers left him with mediocre results. He can’t be used against the Red Sox next time out, but Shields might have some value in AL-only leagues while facing lesser offenses.

He’ll start Tuesday in place of the injured Casey Fossum. Shields doesn’t have very good stuff for a right-hander, but outstanding command has turned him into a potential major league fifth starter. AL-only leaguers can take a wait-and-see approach.

Shields had given up just one run through four innings, but three singles, two doubles, and a walk in the fifth led to four runs in the inning. Overall, Shields gave up nine hits, struck out five, and walked three, one of which was intentional. He should do better than his, but he’s probably not worth using against the Angels next time out.

Shields struggled some in his major league debut on May 31, but he’s pitched six scoreless innings in each of his last two starts. While it wouldn’t be a great idea to use him in Philadelphia next time out, he can be kept as a spot starter in AL-only leagues.