Royals’ James Shields ‘almost certain’ to start game one of ALCS vs. Orioles

No surprise here. James Shields is expected to start the first game of the American League Championship Series for the Royals against the Orioles on Friday in Baltimore.

“Friday is Shields’ fifth day,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I imagine he’ll be our starter. I’m almost certain Shields will start game one.”

The Royals’ three-game sweep of the Angels in the American League Division Series with Sunday’s 8-3 victory at Kauffman Stadium has allowed Yost the luxury of setting up his pitching order as he sees fit.

Shields, 14-10 with a 3.21 ERA during the regular season, has made two postseason starts for the Royals.

He opened the AL Wild Card Game against the A’s last Tuesday, surrendering four runs in five innings and getting no decision.

In Sunday’s Division Series clincher, Shields picked up his first postseason victory since winning a World Series game with the Rays in 2008, yielding two runs and six hits in six innings. Shields left the game with the Royals leading 7-2.

No word yet on the game two starter Saturday. Jason Vargas and Yordano Ventura started the first two games of the Division Series in Anaheim, and although neither was credited with a victory, both pitched effectively.

Vargas gave up two solo home runs in six innings of the opener, turning over a 2-2 game to the bullpen. Ventura went seven innings and left with the game tied 1-1.

One of the two figure to get the game two start, and both have selling points. Vargas has been better on the road this year than at home, a 2.73 ERA in 14 road starts compared to a 4.53 ERA in 16 starts at Kauffman Stadium.

Ventura threw one of his best games this season at Camden Yards. On April 25, he pitched eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory. Two weeks later Ventura turned in another solid performance against the Orioles, taking the loss in a 2-1 game. He pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out nine, giving him 17 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings against Baltimore this season.

Yost said he prefers starter Jeremy Guthrie, who induces fly balls, to pitch in more spacious Kauffman Stadium, making him a potential game four starter. Games three, four and five are in Kansas City starting Monday.

But Danny Duffy, whose 2.53 ERA was tops among starters this season, hasn’t been ruled out of a start. Duffy had been designated the long reliever for the Angels, and he pitched one scoreless inning, recording the opening victory.

“We have to look and see how it matches up,” Yost said. “You better have a good long man, in case somebody stubs their toe, or somebody is hit by a line drive. You need a guy to come in and hold it right here.”

The 25-man roster could also be tweaked. Against the Angels, the Royals carried 11 pitchers and five non-starting position players: outfielders Jarrod Dyson, Josh Willingham and Terrance Gore, infielder Christian Colon and catcher Erik Kratz.

That was a best-of-five series. The ALCS is a best-of-seven, and if the Royals carry an extra pitcher, a position player would move off the roster.

“There are a lot of questions we have to answer,” Yost said.

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Royals’ James Shields ‘almost certain’ to start game one of ALCS vs. Orioles."