James Shields took a hard-luck loss on Tuesday, striking out 15 batters while allowing just two hits and one run as the Rays fell to the Orioles. Amazingly he needed just 105 pitches despite the 15 punchouts. Shields afterwards called it "probably the best game of my career," but he made a mistake to Chris Davis in the fourth inning and it ultimately cost him. The right-hander had a phenomenal second half this season, posting a 2.81 ERA while striking out 114 over 109 innings.

James Shields turned in a strong performance in a no-decision against the White Sox on Thursday, allowing just two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Shields racked up six strikeouts but also issued four walks in the game. He pitched himself into bases loaded jams in both the fourth and fifth innings, where a hit batsmen and a double play groundout plated the two runs. He's having another very strong season, posting a 15-9 record, 3.62 ERA and 208/58 K/BB ratio over 218 2/3 innings. He'll attempt to finish his season on a high note when he does battle against the Orioles at home on Tuesday.

James Shields twirled a dominant ballgame in Friday's victory over the Blue Jays, scattering six hits and a walk over seven innings of work. Big Game James also racked up nine strikeouts on the evening. He has certainly pitched like an ace over his last 10 starts, posting a 7-2 record, 2.04 ERA and 68/10 K/BB ratio in 75 innings. He'll look to extend his recent dominance when he does battle against the White Sox in Chicago on Thursday.

James Shields struggled in a losing effort against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits over his 6 1/3 innings. Shields fanned four and issued one free pass on the afternoon. Most of the damage came in the second inning, where Curtis Granderson launched a two-run homer, and Eduardo Nunez immediately followed with a solo shot. Still, Shields owns a terrific 14-9 record, 3.77 ERA and 193/53 K/BB ratio over 205 1/3 innings on the year. He'll look to get back in the win column when he does battle against the Red Sox at home on Thursday.

James Shields suffered a tough-luck loss against the Rangers on Tuesday, allowing just one run on three hits over seven strong innings of work. Shields punched out eight on the night while issuing two free passes. The only blemish on his night, and the only scoring in the game, came on an Ian Kinsler solo homer in the fourth inning. While he hasn't replicated his dominating numbers from a season ago, Shields is still having a very solid year, compiling a 12-8 record, 3.91 ERA and 176/49 K/BB ratio. He'll make his next start in a crucial matchup against the Yankees next Monday.

James Shields yielded three runs in 7 2/3 innings in a victory over the Royals on Wednesday. Shields struck out seven in wining his fourth straight decision. He's still one more strong outing away from pulling his ERA back under 4.00; he's ended his last three starts at 4.02, 4.03 and now 4.01.

James Shields took a no-decision in Sunday's 7-3, 10-inning win over the Twins, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. Shields struck out two, walked two and allowed a two-run homer to Justin Morneau. Both the quality start and seven-inning outing were his third straight following some rough early-July pitching. Shields will bring a 4.02 ERA into his Friday tilt with the Angels in Anaheim.

James Shields was outstanding in Tuesday's victory over the Blue Jays, allowing just one run on two hits over eight strong innings. Shields punched out six and walked just one, and the only real mark against him was a fourth-inning solo homer by Colby Rasmus. Shields has been brutally inconsistent on the season, but has now turned in two straight masterful performances. He'll look to continue that trend when he does battle against the Twins in Minnesota on Sunday.

James Shields pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 11, against the A's on Tuesday. Shields, who had 11 complete games and four shutout in 2011, got his first of each in 2012 tonight. It was also his first win in six starts and just his second in 10 starts, as he moved to 9-7 with a 4.24 ERA. That he's fanned 10 batters in three straight outings seems like a good sign going forward.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports writes that right-hander James Shields "is staying in Tampa Bay." The Rays have been shopping Shields for the past couple of weeks but haven't been blown away by any particular offer. And now they're just two games back of a Wild Card spot and with Evan Longoria nearing activation. It'd be silly to suddenly shake things up.