Without a catch
Price doesn’t throw, status in limbo
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
For the fifth day in a row, David Price did not play catch yesterday. At this point, his rehab from left elbow inflammation is not so much a march toward recovery. It’s more of a race against the clock.
The Red Sox have 39 games left to play in the final six weeks of the regular season. Price hasn’t thrown off a mound in nearly a month since his last start on July 22, and there’s not even a timetable for him to resume long toss, much less throw a bullpen session, begin a rehab assignment or get back in a game.
Manager John Farrell acknowledged that the Red Sox “loosely” have begun to count backward to figure out the latest dates at which Price could hit certain steps in order to keep alive the possibility of getting him back on the active roster this season.
“And I say loosely only because with David showing some ability to throw long toss while we were in New York (last weekend), that’s not been the case the last few days,” Farrell said. “So, it’s been so fluid that it can’t really begin to get attached to a date. The calendar is where we are, and with each passing day, we recognize that’s happening. But our focus is what David is capable of, and what’s best for him at this point.”
Price reached 120 feet of long toss at Yankee Stadium last weekend, then he had a scheduled day off and played catch again Tuesday. But he hasn’t thrown since then. A week ago, it seemed he was getting close to a bullpen, but his latest pause in his rehab has brought fresh uncertainty about his return.
Presumably, he could shorten his rehab by working as a reliever instead of a starter — he wouldn’t have to be stretched out if he were pitching out of the bullpen — and Price has been an effective reliever in the past, including a postseason run as a rookie in 2008, but Farrell said the Red Sox aren’t deep enough in the process to consider that possibility just yet.
“Have not even entertained that thought,” Farrell said. “Just for the simple fact of getting back to where there’s a mound progression at that point. We’ll see what unfolds.”
Pomeranz on track
There’s much better Red Sox rotation news concerning Drew Pomeranz, who left Friday’s game with back spasms but remains on track to throw a bullpen today. Assuming he gets through the bullpen without trouble, Pomeranz will make his next scheduled start Wednesday in Cleveland.
“He’s responded really well to treatment,” Farrell said. “Expect him to go out and play catch today. He’s, I would say, right at full range of motion. The intent would be for him to get on a mound tomorrow in Cleveland in anticipation of his start on Wednesday. Right now, that’s our goal, where our target is, for him to pitch on Wednesday.”
Pomeranz would be matched up against Corey Kluber, who’s Chris Sale’s primary competition for the Cy Young Award.
Pedroia staying behind
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia will not be with the Red Sox for their four-game series in Cleveland, but he’s expected to get on the field at Fenway Park.
“He will remain here, but he will start to initiate baseball activity,” Farrell said. “Whether it is throwing, starting to swing the bat in the cage. That is all happening this week . . . . He’s making progress, yes.”
In Pedroia’s place, Brock Holt started at second base instead of Eduardo Nunez yesterday and had two hits, matching a season high. Nunez was out of the lineup for the first time since his trade from San Francisco.
“Down day (for Nunez),” Farrell said. “Felt like he’s been going every day. Looked like he could use a day. Wanted to get another left-hander with Brock and get some fresh legs with he and Mitch (Moreland) on the field today.”
Mild rotation change
Although Farrell said this is what he intended all along, the Red Sox scheduled rotation has a slight change for the series against the Indians. Instead of Doug Fister pitching tonight’s series opener, it will be Eduardo Rodriguez, with Fister getting the ball tomorrow.
“When we made the change to put Rick (Porcello) into today, we wanted Eddy to be in between the two right-handers,” Farrell said. “So, we haven’t changed it a second time. This is initially how it was going to be right from the get-go.”