Shields Faces Tough Debut Against Scherzer

With Shields backing them up, the White Sox coaching staff won’t feel as much pressure to pitch Sale and Quintana deep into games.

James Shields will make his White Sox Debut at 35th and Shields tonight against Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. Shields posted a 2-7 record and a 4.84 ERA in San Diego this season. His ERA ballooned from 3.06 after allowing 10 runs on eight hits and two walks in 2.2 innings in his last start.

Shields has been steady over 11 career starts at U.S. Cellular Field. His last start at the Cell was in 2014 with the Royals. He is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a 2.24 K/IP. These are encouraging signs amidst widespread concerns that he won’t be able to make the transition from the Padres’ pitcher friendly Petco Park to the Cell which is far more advantageous to hitters.

Shields splits against the Nationals are not nearly as stout. In three career starts against Washington he has a hefty 6.00 ERA and 1.81 WHIP.

Scherzer has owned the White Sox in 23 career starts against the Southsiders. He is 12-6 with a 2.54 ERA. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 4.54 K/BB ratio and a 9.5 K/9 while allowing only a .218 career batting average against.

With Shields backing them up, the White Sox coaching staff won’t feel as much pressure to pitch Sale and Quintana deep into games.

Schedule