Down 1-0, How Can the Red Sox Start David Price?
2018 was the greatest regular season in Boston Red Sox history. 108 wins. Never done before and yet, after a loss in Game 1 of the ALCS to the Astros, how could the homefield favorites risk a deeper hole by putting David Price on the mound to start Game 2?
The original plan was to hand the ball to the $217 million man at Fenway Park on Sunday night, but it's time for Alex Cora to call an audible. Down two games headed to Houston and we might as well start planning to see the defending champions in a second straight Fall Classic.
We can run through the playoff career numbers of Price again, 0-9 in 10 career postseason starts with an ERA over 6, but even the most peripheral baseball fan knows pitching him Sunday night is a mistake.
Price had real success last postseason against the Astros. As a reliever. So, I'm not saying he should never pitch again in the playoffs, but isn't it the job of a manager to put his players in a position to succeed? How could you justify Price starting on the rubber?