Shields fell to 2-6 after allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits over 6.2 innings Thursday against the Giants. He struck out seven and walked just one.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the loss, fantasy owners can take significant positives away from this outing -- after all, it's the second straight start in which Shields has struck out more than a batter per inning while issuing only a single walk. That's huge for him, as his walk rate was way too high in the early going. Nonetheless, the veteran righty is still sitting on a 1.33 WHIP -- a clone of last year's disappointing mark -- and that combined with his 4.12 FIP means that his ERA is due for some regression. Of course, that doesn't have to happen if Shields can finally start learning to use Petco Park to his advantage -- bizarrely, he's been much more homer-prone since coming to ostensibly pitcher-friendly San Diego, and he gave up another long ball Thursday.