James Shields could start playoff opener after Royals tweak pitching rotation

Royals manager Ned Yost has tweaked his starting rotation with many objectives.

But the bottom line is this: If the Royals reach the playoffs for the first time in nearly three decades, the adjustments allow “Big Game” James Shields to get the call in the team’s biggest game.

The new rotation begins with the Tigers series on Friday. Because Thursday is an off-day, the Royals have decided to keep starters Jason Vargas and Shields on regular rest and they’ll pitch on Friday and Saturday.

“I pitch every five days all year long so it’s nothing new,” Shields said.

Jeremy Guthrie, who would have started Friday, will go on Sunday.

Shields would start again on Sept. 25, the opening game of a season-ending four-game series at the Chicago White Sox. That would allow him to have a regular four days between starts if the Royals play in the American League wild-card game on Sept. 30.

Another possible benefit is having two left-handed pitchers, Danny Duffy and Vargas, set for the Indians, who have hit 29 of their 105 home runs entering Tuesday against lefties.

If the Royals win the AL Central Division, Shields, who ran his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 19 on Monday and took a no-decision in the Royals’ 4-3 victory, would be available to start the American League Division Series on Oct. 2.

There’s another possibility. If the Royals are tied for the division lead or a second wild-card spot, which would necessitate a one-game playoff, that game would be played on Sept. 29.

“We’d have two options,” Yost said. “Vargas on regular rest and Shields one day short.”

Duffy update

Duffy threw a four-inning simulated game Tuesday, and all systems are go for a start next week.

“It felt normal,” Duffy said. “It felt better than normal.”

“In a real game, hitters would have been a lot more aggressive,” said Duffy, who was diagnosed with rotator-cuff inflammation after throwing one pitch on Sept. 6 at Yankee Stadium. “After the first inning, I really locked in and it felt like a game situation.”

Royals’ projected rotation

This story was originally published September 16, 2014 at 6:05 PM with the headline "James Shields could start playoff opener after Royals tweak pitching rotation."