What a relief
Price activated, will work out of bullpen
David Price is going back to how it all began.
At 32 years old, the former Cy Young winner was activated off the disabled list by the Red Sox for yesterday’s series finale against the Oakland A’s and will pitch out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role for the remainder of the season, manager John Farrell announced.
Price will be available to pitch on Sunday or Monday, Farrell said.
Price began his major league career as a reliever with the Tampa Bay Rays at the end of the 2008 season, then pitched out of the ’pen while helping the Rays get to the World Series. He was also used out of the bullpen for a three-inning outing with Toronto in the 2015 postseason. Price has had some success in that role, making six playoff relief appearances with a 4.15 ERA. As a starter, Price is 0-8 in nine postseason starts with a 5.74 ERA.
Recovering from soreness related to a partial tear in his elbow he suffered during spring training, Price was on the DL for the second time this season and hasn’t pitched since July 22. He threw 47 pitches in a simulated game on Wednesday.
Price is likely to pitch some key innings for the Red Sox down the stretch, particularly given the struggles of relievers Matt Barnes and Joe Kelly, who each have an ERA over 4.70 since Aug. 1.
“I think there will be some spots that will emerge naturally,” Farrell said. “I think the one thing that he has shown in these two work sessions is the full assortment of pitches, good power to his fastball. From just a physical standpoint, I think he’s passed those tests to put him in this position and looking forward to getting him back to game activity.”
A relief role could suit Price well. He’s mentioned that throwing breaking balls is what causes him the most discomfort, and he was throwing only 7 percent curveballs as a starter, instead focusing on his hard stuff, which he threw about 80 percent of the time.
Farrell will give Price as much advance notice as possible before he pitches so he can stretch out by throwing long toss with an outfielder between innings. The Sox are hoping Price can be effective in this role.
“Go back to 2007 or ’13, teams that advanced deep into October, there was a guy that moved out of the rotation and became a multi-inning guy that was a critical performer,” Farrell said. “Felix Doubront was that guy in 2013, couple innings on back-to-back nights, to bridge from a starter to a later (reliever) in the bullpen. It was on full display last October the way things have evolved with more aggressive use of the bullpen.
“So I feel like David, getting healthy and getting game activity under his belt, is a prime candidate to be that type of guy.”
Vazquez keeps on hitting
Christian Vazquez skied a shot that cleared everything in left field for his fifth homer of the season to help lead the Sox in a 6-2 win over the A’s. His .389 average since July 29 leads all major leaguers. On the season, he’s hitting .372 at Fenway Park.
“I think with the Wall here, a lot of times right-handers are going to pitch him away, and his swing is built perfectly to use the whole field,” Farrell said. “So, some of that comes into play.”
With Vazquez hot and Sandy Leon handcuffed to Chris Sale as his personal catcher, the Sox will consider using Vazquez at designated hitter.
“If Pedey’s (Dustin Pedroia) not the DH, I wouldn’t rule it out,” Farrell said. “For the better part of the same time frame that Benny’s (Andrew Benintendi) been in on a run, so has Vazquez. Right-left, he’s handled them both. But the way he continues to come along, at this point, would not rule it out. Particularly with (Eduardo Nunez) being down and where physically (Hanley Ramirez) ends up getting through — the shoulders have flared up on him again — it is certainly an option.”
Pomeranz piles up wins
Drew Pomeranz picked up his career-best 16th win, which tied him with Sale, Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer for the American League lead. Farrell had high praise for Pomeranz, who is 16-5 with a 3.28 ERA.
“You start to look at the numbers as they are and the things we have to go by, and maybe sometimes people don’t put a lot of weight into wins and losses and ERA, but you know what, they’re meaningful,” Farrell said. “He starts to put himself in a very small group around the American League just by, you look at the hits allowed, you look at the runs given up, the quality starts, the run of games he’s been on for the better part of three months or more. He’s been maybe our most consistent starter in our rotation for the better part of these three or four months.”