James Shields vs. Michael Wacha — Career Comparison

James Shields
MillenialCaliforniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaTampa Bay RaysAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Michael Wacha
MillenialIowaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaKansas City RoyalsAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

The numbers give Michael Wacha a clear advantage over James Shields across the core pitching metrics. Michael Wacha led in home run suppression (HR9+ 94 vs 70), walk avoidance (BB%+ 107 vs 92), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 96 vs 84). James Shields held the edge in strikeout rate (K%+ 102 vs 94). Michael Wacha was the better starter — the numbers make that case clearly.

Pitching Stats for James Shields and Michael Wacha

James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
407
1.4
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
309
1.71
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
405
1.39
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
288
1.59
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
145
0.5
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
111
0.61
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
139
0.48
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
75
0.41
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
51.06
51.06
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
59.68
59.68
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
99.51
99.51
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.2
93.2
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.08
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.01
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.03
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.01
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1167
4.01
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
703
3.89
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.01
4.01
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.89
3.89
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.97
3.97
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.75
3.75
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.05
4.05
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.257
0.257
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.253
0.253
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7848
27
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
4882
27
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2616
9
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
1627.1
9
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
2581
8.88
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1571
8.69
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.88
8.88
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.69
8.69
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
361
1.24
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
194
1.07
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.24
1.24
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.07
1.07
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.89
0.89
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.63
0.63
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
746
2.57
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
503
2.78
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
0.08
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
18
0.1
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.57
2.57
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.78
2.78
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2234
7.69
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1416
7.83
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.69
7.69
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.83
7.83
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.49
5.49
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.58
4.58
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.139
1.139
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.179
1.179
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
107
0.37
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43
0.24
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
97
0.33
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
0.23
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.03
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.02
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10993
37.82
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6846
37.86
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.02
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1267
4.36
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
746
4.13
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.36
4.36
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.13
4.13
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
53
0.18
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
0.2
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
45
0.15
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
45
0.25
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
211
0.73
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
136
0.75
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.272
1.272
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.275
1.275
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10052
34.58
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
6219
34.39
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.11
3.11
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.41
2.41
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.298
0.298
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.299
0.299
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.82
37.82
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.86
37.86

Fielding Stats for James Shields and Michael Wacha

James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
13
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
407
1.4
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
309
1.71
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
405
1.39
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
288
1.59
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7848
27
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
4882
27
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2616
9
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
1627.1
9
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
187
0.64
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
119
0.66
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
283
0.97
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
170
0.94
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
30
0.1
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.04
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.72
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
296
1.64
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
470
1.62
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
289
1.6
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
94
94
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.64
97.64
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.155
1.155
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.935
0.935
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
99.51
99.51
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.2
93.2
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
22
0.08
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
0.08
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for James Shields and Michael Wacha

James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
13
13
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
13
13
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
411
1601.3
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
310
641.38
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
154
600
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
290
600
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
142
553.25
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
251
519.31
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.169
0.169
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.092
0.092
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.419
0.419
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.319
0.319
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
93.51
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
23
47.59
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
21
81.82
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
21
43.45
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
11.69
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
2
4.14
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
11.69
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
2
4.14
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.125
0.125
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.087
0.087
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.7
18.31
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
2.82
5.84
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
27
105.19
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
25
51.72
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
27
105.19
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
32
66.21
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.186
0.186
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.123
0.123
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.19
0.19
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.1
0.1
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.376
0.376
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.222
0.222
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.021
0.021
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.008
0.008
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.131
0.131
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.08
0.08
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.252
0.252
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.152
0.152
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.279
0.279
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0.181
0.181
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
15
58.44
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
16
33.1
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
6
23.38
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
33.1
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
21
81.82
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
32
66.21
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.08
12
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
-7.53
-15.58
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
3
11.69
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
18.62
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
56
218.18
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
125
258.62
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.75
2.75
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
2.32
2.32
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.05
0.05
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
9
35.06
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
29
60
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.07
James Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
3.9
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
3
6.21
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.07
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.07
James Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
Michael Wacha
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100