David Price Done for Remainder of Season
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced on Wednesday that left-handed pitcher David Price will not pitch for the remainder of the 2019 season. Price is expected to have surgery before season’s end due to a cyst that the pitcher has been dealing with in his wrist. The Red Sox plan to have Price ready to go by the 2020 season.
Late-Season Struggles
Price hasn’t pitched since September 1, where he was only able to pitch two innings. His last appearance before that was on August 4 when he tossed two and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits. The last time Price pitched when he allowed less than three runs and pitched at least five innings was all the way back on July 7 — over three months ago.
For somebody who was a real bright spot on this roster for the early part of the season, he has taken quite the step back since the start of June. Price only allowed three earned runs in the month of May. In June he allowed 12 runs and 17 in July. He has five different starts since the end of May where he has given up at least three runs.
Waving the White Flag
Injuries have derailed Price’s season over the last month, but Price hasn’t been up to snuff for a while. Shutting down Price makes all the sense in the world for the Red Sox. With the team hanging on by a thread mathematically for playoff contention, their season is all but over. Having already been eliminated from the division race, the Red Sox sit nine games out of a Wild Card spot. With 12 games left in their season, it would take a miracle to make up any ground in the race.
Boston all but waved the white flag when they shut down Chris Sale earlier in the season. Shutting down Price is now the final nail in the coffin. Boston could be eliminated from the playoffs as early as Thursday. The team will close out 2019 against the San Fransisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles. Better luck next year, Boston.
