David Price's career with the Red Sox has not gone according to plan.
On the surface, his numbers aren't bad. During his 2.5 years in Boston after signing a $217 million dollar contract in 2016, Price has a win-loss record of 32-18 with a 3.99 earned run average and a WHIP of 1.219. His ERA and WHIP are the highest among teams Price has pitched for in his career. Price is 9-6 with a 4.44 ERA in 18 starts this season.
But his struggles against the Yankees -- 0-5 with a 10.44 ERA in his five starts in New York, 2-6 overall -- and his disastrous lone postseason start against the Indians in the 2016 ALDS (five earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings in a 6-0 defeat) have heaped tremendous amounts of scrutiny on Price.
Making matters worse, Price had a no decision on Saturday night in Kansas City against a poor Royals lineup, giving up four earned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Price was pulled in the fifth with the bases loaded and two outs before the Sox got out of the jam tied 4-4.
Glenn Ordway returned to OMF Monday and surmised his disappointment in the lefty.
"I held out some hope, that maybe finally he was going to get it and figure it out," he said. "[Price] is a former Cy Young award winner. This guy is a legitimate, big-time pitcher, who apparently has totally lost it. After watching him against Kansas City the other night, he has suddenly become a fastball pitcher. The curveball has disappeared, and the changeup is no longer part of his repertoire."
Co-host Lou Merloni agreed.
"He had no clue where the ball was going, at all, against – you talk about a bad lineup, [Kansas City] is the worst in baseball," he said.
"He's a fastball pitcher that the league, and that awful Kansas City lineup, has figured out," Ordway said. "How can we have any hope that when he goes up against good teams in the postseason he's going to give you anything? It may be beyond between his ears, and his heart, and facing teams that are really good. Maybe his whole game has gone south here?"
Price's next start is set for Thursday at Fenway Park against his former club, the Blue Jays. It will be his final start before the All-Star break.
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