Long-toss session goes well for Price

NEW YORK — David Price has been on the shelf for nearly three weeks, but despite having “his best throwing day yet” yesterday, according to manager John Farrell, nobody knows when he is going to pitch again.

That makes Drew Pomeranz’ start this afternoon that much more important.

Pomeranz offers certainty these days. He has pitched like the No. 2 pitcher Price was supposed to be this season.

Since June, only two other American League pitchers — Corey Kluber (1.70) and Chris Sale (2.38) — have posted a lower ERA than Pomeranz (2.71). He is 5-0 over his last eight starts, and has allowed only one run over six-plus innings in three of his last four starts.

The injury to Price’s forearm, which cropped up first in spring training, and the curious case of the underachieving Rick Porcello means that Pomeranz has assumed second-best pitcher status after Sale.

Price went through a five-game stretch in the second half of his 11-start season in which he lived up to his pedigree. He posted a 1.91 ERA in that stretch, with 34 strikeouts and five walks over 33 innings. Then that lousy last start in Anaheim occurred on July 22 (five innings, five earned runs and three walks), followed by the decision to put him on the disabled list.

He has slowly been rounding back into shape. In a flat-ground, long-toss session in left field at Yankee Stadium before batting practice, Price was throwing with significant intensity and good accuracy from 120 feet.

Farrell, pitching coach Carl Willis and the training staff kept a close eye throughout and were pleased with what they saw.

“Today was a good work day for him. He threw long toss out to 120 feet,” said Farrell. “Afterward, he came in and spun some breaking balls. That was the goal, the design for today.

“Since his placement on the DL, today was his best throwing day yet,” Farrell added. “So we’ll see where he comes in (today) and that would determine what the throwing program would be next.”

Farrell did not say when Price will be able to throw a bullpen session. After that stage, a rehab start in the minors would be the next step.

Should Price continue to progress, there is still enough time left in August for him to see big league action by September, but there are still too many variables to call that scenario likely.

“I think we’ll have a better read on that after he comes in (today) and gets checked out,” said Farrell. “So I don’t have a specific throwing program that he would be involved in (today) or the next day yet.”