After Thursday’s matchup with the Cleveland Indians was postponed, Red Sox manager John Farrell decided to move David Price’s next start from this weekend’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays to Monday’s home opener at Fenway Park versus the Baltimore Orioles.
Farrell’s decision has been criticized a bit. The debate makes for good talk on sports radio, but while it would be nice to pitch Price as much as possible given his extraordinary talent, it’s smarter to give him a bit of a break early in the season. The Red Sox expect to make the postseason, and they will need Price as fresh as possible in September and possibly beyond.
Boston’s manager was asked about the decision to move Price to the opener during a segment on WEEI’s pre-game show before Friday night’s game in Toronto.
“It was more a decision keeping everyone close to their normal routine as opposed to one,” Farrell said. “This pushes David Price back into the home opener when we get back off this road trip. It keeps us all with three right-hander starters against a predominately right-handed hitting lineup up here in Toronto. Those are the reasons and factors that went into this.”
Farrell also admitted the two extra off days, which came as the result of weather postponing two of the Red Sox’s first four games against the Indians to begin the season, was another factor in shifting the rotation.
Price, speaking to reporters in Toronto, doesn’t seem to have any problem with the decision.
Assuming mother nature doesn’t impact any more games over the next week or so, Price’s first game against his former Blue Jays teammates should come next weekend when Toronto visits Fenway Park for the first time in 2016.
Thumbnail photo via Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports Images
