James Shields is both struggling and dealing with back pain, but has vowed to remain in the rotation with the Chicago White Sox.

A day after Robin Ventura suggested Shields could be shut down, the veteran said a doctor's visit produced good news.

"Knock on wood, I haven't missed a start my whole career and I don't really plan on it, either," Shields said. "It's one of those things where I'm pretty sure I'll be out there on Saturday."

Besides a six-start stretch in July when he had 1.71 ERA, Shields has been hit hard. He's 3-10 with a 7.50 ERA in 17 starts with Chicago.

"It's been a crazy year, man," Shields said. "A lot of things going on. Obviously I got traded. Things that happened in San Diego that weren't under my control. Come in here to a new team, probably out of the gates tried to do too much, then settled in and then didn't do too well."