Price closing in on return start
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
MILWAUKEE -- The arrival date is nearing for David Price.
Price will be sent out on a rehab assignment this weekend and is scheduled to throw around 70 pitches for Triple-A Pawtucket against the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday afternoon at McCoy Stadium.
He’ll need a minimum of two rehab starts, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
“It’s been so encouraging the way he’s throwing the baseball, even after days when it’s been a heavy work day,” Farrell said. “He’s ready for that next step.”
The team will evaluate him after two to see if he’s ready to return to the majors, making Wednesday, May 24, the earliest possible date for his first start of the 2017 season. The Red Sox play the Texas Rangers at home that day.
“That’s not to say by any means he’s coming back after five days following Wednesday (May 19),” Farrell said. “But even David knows we have to prepare as best possible. One of the best pitchers in the game right now ( Chris Sale) just got forced to throw 38 pitches in one inning this past Sunday. So we have to prepare for the unforeseen as well.”
Without Price, the Sox rotation has been below average, ranking 18th with a 4.32 ERA entering last night.
“We’re going to add a front-line starter so that’s going to be an initial boost of abilities and certainly expectations,” Farrell said. “That’s just David doing what he typically does. Any time you can send a starter of his caliber to the mound, it gives you a boost of confidence.”
No satisfaction
Prior to yesterday’s 7-4 loss to the Brewers, Farrell offered a critique of how he thinks the Sox have done so far this season.
“Honestly, I don’t think anybody in here is satisfied at 17-15 despite the challenges that we’ve gone through as a team,” Farrell said. “Every team has their challenges in their own right. Injuries and otherwise. But we feel there’s a real capability that we could be better than 17-15. “That’s a pitch made differently in one certain way or if that’s a swing of the bat a little bit differently or a play made that would lend to that. By no means do we feel like we’re stemming the tide until David’s return. That would suggest that David is going to be the key for us and we take off. We’re going to get a good pitcher back to us at some point in the near future, but we’ve still got other areas we have to continue to address. And that’s defensively at third base. While Josh ( Rutledge) has done a good job over there, on the whole, we’ve got to be better.”
Pablo Sandoval will begin a rehab assignment in the coming days and Brock Holt will make his first start at third base for Pawtucket today, Farrell said.
Raking rookie
If the Rookie of the Year voting took place today, Andrew Benintendi could give New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge a run for the title.
Benintendi entered Wednesday ranked among the major league leaders among rookies in hits (first, 42), runs (second, 21), RBI (second, 22), average (first, .339), OBP (second, .400) and slugging (second, .516). He was 0-for-4 with a walk last night.
His five homers aren’t quite near the top of the leaderboard, but he has two homers in his last five games since moving to the leadoff spot.
“It’s an easy swing that certainly plays,” Farrell said. “The re-alignment has helped us click a little bit.”
Is there even more power in that bat?
“He’s still finding out about himself over the course of a full major league season,” Farrell said. “Maybe a question better answered in October.”
Judge doesn’t have the fielding finesse of Benintendi, nor the batting average, but his 13 homers and 1.173 OPS led the American League entering Wednesday.
Rotated down
After Kyle Kendrick lasted just 41⁄ innings last night, the Red Sox optioned him to Triple-A Pawtucket. He allowed 12 runs in 81⁄ innings in his two starts with the Sox this season.
To take his place on the roster, the Sox recalled lefthander Robbie Ross Jr. from Pawtucket. Ross struck out four and allowed just one run in five innings with the PawSox. He had allowed two runs in 41⁄ innings with the Red Sox before they optioned him.
With an off-day on Monday, the Red Sox don’t need a fifth starter again until May 20.
“How we arrange some things, that’s to be determined,” Farrell said. “Our bullpen has been overtaxed the last couple of nights.”