The Red Sox finally seem to have a clear path for the return of star lefty David Price, who has been working back from an elbow ailment. He’ll make his first rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (Twitter links).
It seems the Sox feel that Price has already done much of the preliminary build-up, as he’s scheduled to throw about five innings or 70 to 75 pitches. Assuming things go well, he’ll then look to move up from there in a second outing.
While Red Sox skipper John Farrell made clear that Price will need to make at least two rehab starts, he did suggest it’s possible he won’t need a third. If Price can push up to around 90 pitches in his second outing, he could then be activated for MLB duties, in which case he might be back in Boston before the month is over.
The first stretch of the season hasn’t been perfect for the Red Sox, but they have managed to remain in a decent position despite missing a pitcher who was expected to deliver big value from the front of the rotation. The timing is helpful, too, as Steven Wright was just lost for the rest of the year due to knee surgery.
All things considered, the club has to feel relatively fortunate in Price’s trajectory, given the somewhat worrying signals that were given when his elbow issues first came up. So long as he can return and maintain his health from here on out, at least, this absence will be looked back upon mostly as a blip.
When he does get back on the big league hill, Price will be looking to improve upon a tepid first season with the Sox. After inking a record-setting seven-year, $217MM contract in free agency, Price compiled a 3.99 ERA over 230 innings — his worst single-season earned run average since way back in 2009.
That’s great news for the Sox and bad news for the rest of the AL East. He has always killed the O’s, so I would have preferred to see his DL stint last just a little longer.
The yanks always shell him then steal his lunch
Oh you mean how the six always she’ll sabathia and steal his desert!
The 6? No need to bring Toronto into this, but how do the Jays she’ll Sabathis
In English please.
He spelled one word wrong dude calm down please.
Sox I meant
I am a Yankees Fan I gotta say at this point the whole league does that to CC
Fingers crossed on Price. But, Price making a couple of starts and then being ‘shut down’ for a good while seems a distinct possibility – I hope I’m wrong.
You are right…
Opt out David, we are going to need the money for Mookie
90% rain on Sunday in Pawtucket, Price will probably have to settle for a simulate game.
Or send him to Portland.
Portland is playing in eastern pa Sunday (reading) so no better down here
Am I the only Red Sox fan who can’t stand this guy?
No, there are actually 217,000,000 fans that can’t stand him
Most likely scenario if he stays healthy is that he becomes an innings eater pitching to a ~4.50 ERA. He’s been losing velocity before the injury and he isn’t likely to ever get it back. His secondary pitches are rather ordinary so it is unlikely he ever returns to a top of the rotation starter.
If he can pitch well (ERA under 4, 8 k/9 under 3 bb/9 ) I can stand him all day long.