BOSTON — He's getting a second chance in the second game.
David Price's early exit in Game 2 of the American League Division Series did not push him further back in the Red Sox rotation for the next round.
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Sox manager Alex Cora told Chris Russo on MLB Network's "High Heat" on Wednesday that Price is lined up to pitch Game 2 of the Championship Series against the Astros on Sunday night at Fenway Park.
Nate Eovaldi's dominant performance in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees gave Sox manager Alex Cora a prime candidate to pitch Game 2 behind Chris Sale, if Cora wanted to make a change. Price lasted 1 2/3 innings and faced just 10 batters in Game 2 against the Yankees, while Eovaldi's cutter and triple-digit fastball helped him pitch seven innings of one-run ball at Yankee Stadium.
In the ALDS, Cora was asked why people should believe Price can mentally handle the postseason.
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"I think there's been guys around the league that they struggle their first 10 starts," Cora said. "Like, [Justin] Verlander, nobody remembers that he wasn't good early in his career in the playoffs, and now he's kind of like the poster child of playoff baseball. I read something about Pedro [Martinez] against Cleveland. I don't know. We saw it last year out of the bullpen, he did a good job. He pitched [Game 163 in 2013] and went nine innings ... against the Rangers. One thing for sure, he's in the same spirits today. He's ready to roll which is very important for us."
Price's 6.04 ERA as a postseason starter is the third-highest in major league history for anyone with at least 10 starts. He's 0-9 as a starter and has two wins as a reliever in the postseason.