James Shields surrendered seven earned runs over five innings in Saturday's Game 2 loss to the Rangers. The five-game ALDS is now tied at a game apiece. Shields struck out six batters and didn't issue a single walk, but the powerful Texas lineup pounced on pitches that he left over the middle. "Big Game James" finished the regular season with a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 225/65 K/BB ratio. He's not off to such a great start in the playoffs.

James Shields will start Game 2 of the Rays' ALDS matchup against the Rangers. Shields would have been a lock for Game 1, but he pitched 8 2/3 tough innings on Monday against the Yankees and the Rays want to keep him on normal rest. "Big Game James" posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 225/65 K/BB ratio over 33 starts during the regular season.

James Shields stepped up in a big way in his final start of the regular season Monday, holding the Yankees to just two runs on six hits and three walks in 8 2/3 innings of a 5-2 Rays victory. The win coupled with Boston's loss pulls the Rays even for the American League wild card with just two games to go. Astonishing considering the Rays entered the month of September 7.5 games behind. As for Shields, he ends his career-best season by going at least eight innings for the 15th time in 33 starts. He was one out away from his 12th complete game. In 249 1/3 innings, he'll finish with a 2.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 225/65 K/BB ratio. Numbers that were impossible to see coming after a 2010 in which he was one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball.

James Shields surrendered four runs in 7 1/3 innings Wednesday in a loss to the Yankees. While he hasn't exactly gotten lit up, "Big Game James" has suddenly lost two in a row when the Rays needed him most. He took a 2-1 lead into the eighth today, only to give up an Eduardo Nunez homer to start the frame. After a groundout, he surrendered a single and a walk and was pulled in favor of J.P. Howell, who immediately gave up a two-run double. The loss leaves Shields 15-12 for the season.

James Shields allowed four runs over seven-plus innings in a loss to the Red Sox on Friday night. Shields didn't look long for this game early on, but he managed to pitch into the eighth inning before getting pulled. All told, he allowed seven hits (including a go-ahead solo home run by Mike Aviles) while striking out four, walking three and throwing two wild pitches. This was his first loss since August 16. With every game a must-win, he'll try to bounce back next week against the Yankees.

James Shields held the Rangers to just four hits in eight scoreless innings of work on Wednesday, improving to 13-10 in a 4-1 Rays victory in Texas. Shields needed 110 pitches to record his 24 outs, so manager Joe Maddon opted not to send him out for the ninth inning for a shot at his 11th complete game and fifth shutout. The owner of a 2.84 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 199/52 K/BB ratio through 209 innings of work, Shields will get the Rangers again on Monday, this time in Tampa Bay.

James Shields completed his 10th game of the season on Friday, holding the Royals to one run on seven hits as he struck out 12 in a 6-1 Rays victory in Toronto. Shields is the first pitcher to complete 10 games in a season since CC Sabathia did so in 2008, and just the second in the new millenium. The 12-strikeout effort was his third of the year, and gives him 192 punchouts through 201 innings of work. He'll take a 2.96 ERA and 1.05 WHIP into his Wednesday start in Texas.

James Shields recorded his ninth complete game in a losing cause Tuesday, giving up three runs in eight innings versus the Red Sox. Shields allowed just three hits, but unfortunately, they all came in the third and the last was a three-run homer from Jacoby Ellsbury. Shields fell to 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six statts since the All-Star break.

Sunday's game between the Rays and Yankees has been postponed due to rain. It's expected to be made up as part of a split-doubleheader on September 21. Scheduled starters James Shields and A.J. Burnett will presumably just be pushed back a day, with Burnett going on Monday and Shields getting the ball Tuesday in one of the games of the doubleheader against the Red Sox.

James Shields registered his seventh complete game Tuesday, striking out eight and shutting out the Royals in a 4-0 victory. He scattered six hits and walked three. Shields leads the league in complete games, one ahead of Roy Halladay, and he's also spun three shutouts. He's now more than doubled his previous career high of three complete games. Now the proud owner of a 2.80 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 167/48 K/BB ratio in 172 2/3 innings of work, he'll get the Yankees next time around.