Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes to bring a pitcher back to life.
In the case of James Shields, a change of scenery is merely a new backdrop for things to spiral out of control.
Shields finished his Padres tenure by allowing 10 earned runs over 2 2/3 innings and striking out just one batter. He started his time with the White Sox by allowing seven earned runs on eight hits (three homers) while striking out three and getting booed off the field. He is 0-2 with a 32.79 ERA, .533 opponent average, six walks and just three strikeouts over his past 4 2/3 innings.
Shields is striking out 19.7 percent of the batters he faces, below his career average by one percent. He is walking 9.7 percent, which is 3 percent higher than his career average. His average fastball velocity is down (from 93 mph last May to about 90 mph), he has allowed 12 homers after allowing 33 last season (260 from 2006-15) and, despite the move to a ballpark that screams offensive production, there is almost no difference in run support between the Padres and White Sox.
This a 34-year-old pitcher who has logged a lot of innings over his 11-year career (2,182, to be exact, including at least 200 innings in nine consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the majors).
Shields never was dominant, but he always was reliable. Not any more. It is time to shield your eyes, because this could get ugly.
Here is a look at some other pitchers to avoid using, and some you can grab to take their place:
- Over his past four starts, Detroit’s Michael Fulmer has looked like a bona fide ace, going 4-0 with a 0.32 ERA, .117 opponent average, 27 strikeouts and just seven walks. He is available in about 30 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues and should be your top pitching target if available.
- Rick Porcello started the season 6-1 with a 3.11 ERA over his first seven starts. Over his past five starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.52 ERA, .265 opponent average and just 22 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. This is the equivalent of being Rick Rolled. You’re sitting there, enjoying “Funny Cat Compilation No. 6,” and as you’re watching a cat chase a laser pointer up a wall, Rick Astley pops up screaming, “Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down …” Suddenly, you have an annoying song from 1987 stuck in your head and a pitcher who is doing everything Astley said he wouldn’t do in his song (seriously, check out the lyrics). Give him up!
- Rockies rookie Jon Gray was 4-2 with an ugly 5.33 ERA (including a 6.65 ERA at Coors Field) before his start Friday night. However, he is striking out 10.5 per nine innings, his FIP (3.43) is almost two full points below his ERA, and he is walking just 2.9 per nine innings. He was 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA, 22 strikeouts and a .208 opponent average over his past three starts, and is available in more than 70 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
- Francisco Liriano is striking out 21 percent of the batters he faces, but that is about the only good thing to say about the lefty. He is walking a career-high 5.5 per nine innings, and is 1-4 with a 7.43 ERA, a .324 opponent average and 19 walks over his past five starts. He should not be anywhere near your rotation.
- Milwaukee’s Zach Davies is hot right now, going 4-0 with a 2.91 ERA, .191 opponent average and 33 strikeouts over his past seven starts, and has allowed more than two earned runs just once in that span. He is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA and a .154 opponent average over his past three starts. He is a good streaming option against weak opponents.
- Though he is striking out just 5.4 per nine innings and walking a career-high 3.1 per nine innings, Doug Fister is 5-0 with a 2.34 ERA and a .237 opponent average over his past eight starts. He is available in more than 75 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Big hits
Jurickson Profar, 2B, Rangers
In his first 13 games since coming off the DL, the oft-injured 23-year-old is 21-for-54 (.389) with two homers, four RBIs, 12 runs scored and a 1.011 OPS.
Logan Morrison, 1B, Rays
In 22 games since May 17, the lefty-swinging corner infielder hit .366 with seven homers, 18 RBIs, 17 runs scored and a 1.093 OPS before Friday night’s action.
Jhonny Peralta, SS, Cardinals
In three games since returning from the DL, he is hitting .400 with one homer, five RBIs and a 1.355 OPS. He has hit .269 and averaged 17 homers and 75 RBIs from 2005-15, and he is available in 60 percent or more of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
After hitting .232 with four homers, 10 RBIs and a .684 OPS in April, the veteran is 42-for-134 (.313) with 10 homers, 25 RBIs, a .989 OPS and 23 runs scored in 34 games since May 1.
Big whiffs
Jose Quintana, SP, White Sox
After going 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA and a .217 opponent average over his first seven starts, the lefty is 0-5 with a 4.35 ERA and a .277 opponent average over his past five.
Brandon Drury, 3B/OF, Diamondbacks
His average was .320 as of May 15, but he has gone 12-for-63 (.190) with two homers, five RBIs, a .573 OPS and 18 strikeouts in 19 games since.
Joc Pederson, OF, Dodgers
As of May 18, he was hitting .262 with eight homers, 20 RBIs and a .941 OPS. In 18 game since, the 24-year-old is 10-for-65 (.154) with no homers, six RBIs and a .418 OPS.
Billy Burns, OF, Athletics
In 13 games since May 23, the speedy 26-year-old is 9-for-49 (.184) with no homers, three RBIs and just two runs scored. He has a .200 OBP and no stolen bases in that span, despite stealing 12 bases in his first 39 games.
Quick hits
- Wade Miley is 6-0 over his past nine starts, but he has allowed 10 homers, 28 earned runs and 36 strikeouts en route to a 4.50 ERA over that span.
- Yoenis Cespedes’ last home run came on May 24, and the Mets slugger has hit .178 with just two RBIs, eight hits (just one extra-base hit) and a .408 OPS in 13 games since.
- If you have a choice between Luke Gregerson, Ken Giles or Will Harris for save situations in Houston, Roto Files would select Harris. But keep Giles stashed.
- Carlos Beltran caught fire after hitting two home runs on May 9, going 35-for-107 with 12 homers, 31 RBIs, 22 runs scored and a 1.124 OPS in his last 30 games before Friday night. Did you know cherophobia is the fear of happiness? What does this have to do with Beltran? Absolutely nothing, I just thought it would be fun to tell you. Lay off me, man.
Team name of the week: Balking in Memphis (Submitted by @billyserow)