Price to return to rotationMonday

Red Sox left-hander David Price will make his season debut Monday against the White Sox, manager John Farrell said.

The Red Sox will impose “a little tighter rein” on Price’s initial workload, Farrell said. But even a subpar Price may be a better option than Triple-A pitchers Brian Johnson, Kyle Kendrick orHector Velazquez.

Soreness and inflammation in his left elbow have kept Price sidelined.

He scuffled in his twoTriple-A rehab outings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 12 hits in 52⁄ innings. On Wednesday he gave up six runs (three earned) in 32⁄ innings. Price allowed seven hits and a walk, striking out four and throwing 89 pitches.

“He felt fine physically,” Farrell said. “We had a scout there who liked what he saw.”

TheRedSox and Price pointed to a 96-mph fastball and the use of all his pitches without hesitation as enough of a reason to return to the major leagues.

“A lot of pitches in a short amount of time,” Price said. “I think that is more of a test to being healthy asopposedtogoing out there and throwing five or six in 90 pitches. To do what I did in both of my rehab outings, I don’t think you can do that if you’re not healthy.

“Stuff-wise, I felt really good in both (starts) with all my pitches — fastball, changeup, curveball and cutter. They all felt good.”

Price, 31, is in the second year of a seven-year, $217 million contract. Last season he went 17-9 with a 3.99 ERA and a 4.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio in a major230 innings.

Pricehas also been remarkably durable throughout most of his career. He has registered at least 200 innings in six of the last seven seasons, although hewon’t reach that threshold in 2017.