Start James Shields @ Boston?

[twistedude]

Is James Shields a good start on opening day @ Boston?

I'm inclined to start him every time, but on the road against the Red Sox? He didn't have a great spring. I'd hate for him to lay an egg on my roto team on the first day of the season.

[twistedude]

anyone?

[ssf1234]

Who will you start instead? Shields numbers are lacking when away if your into home/away spilts.

[Salty-Dog]

Tough not to start an ace, but I believe he had a pretty horrible ERA @ Fenway last year, like in the 10's....gl

[twistedude]

Who will you start instead? Shields numbers are lacking when away if your into home/away spilts.

I'm already starting Peavy vs. LAD and Verlander @ TOR.

Seriously thinking of benching Shields @ Bos, and have already benched C Lee @ Tex.

[The Mighty Trow]

Tough not to start an ace, but I believe he had a pretty horrible ERA @ Fenway last year, like in the 10's....gl

Shields has always been significantly better at home. In two games at Fenway last year, he had a 21.21 ERA

I think when it comes to Aces you need to look toward the final stat line. I'll nitpick with my low-end pitchers (the Chris Youngs, Cuetos and Carmonas) but for the likes of Shields, I tend to give them carte blanche. Look at CC last year - if you had panicked and benched him after all those bad starts, how much of that incredible stat line would have counted to your team by season's end?

I'm starting him and will be happy with a QS, but won't necesarrily be disappointed in a bad outing. The numbers will be there in the end.

[TheDudeAbides]

Looks like you'll have some more time to think about it.

Rain seemingly everywhere on the day baseball really kicks off - sick.

[Curtis Pride]

I'd hope you didn't spend an early draft pick on a guy you are going to sit often.

The Red Sox have a good offense, but New York's is probably better. Are you going to sit him the the 10x a year he plays either team? That's a lot.

[ytorf]

I'm debating the same thing, myself. All of a sudden leaning toward starting him. He handled the Sox pretty well at home last year and in the postseason (though that was at home as well). Pretty small sample size at Fenway. Last year's ERA there is based on 4.2 innings.

[OneLoveBoomer]

Not saying I'm always going to bench him against BOS, but I think I'm sitting him today. Don't like it.