BOSTON -- The Red Sox scratched David Price from Friday's start against the Yankees after a recurrence of the wrist soreness that had sidelined him for virtually all of August.
Manager Alex Cora said Price once again feels tenderness around a cyst in his left wrist. The injury landed him on the IL from Aug. 4 - when he allowed seven runs vs. the Yankees - until a two-inning start in Anaheim on Sunday in which Price did not look like himself.
"David after the bullpen yesterday, he felt a little bit tight with his wrist," Cora said. "He saw a specialist yesterday, and he's not going to start tomorrow. It's not as bad as the first one, but obviously we're not going to throw him out there just to make a start. The changeup was OK, the cutter was OK yesterday. He pushed hard to pitch, but I was like we're not going to do this to you. We'll go with the bullpen."
The Red Sox had hoped to stretch Price out for the final three weeks of the season in a desperate attempt to make the playoffs, but even as Cora refused to close the door on Price returning this month - "As soon as he feels well, he'll throw a bullpen and we'll go from there," Cora said - we're now left in a position of wondering what kind of impact the injury could have on 2020.
With ace Chris Sale already facing a follow-up exam with Dr. James Andrews at the end of the month to see how his left elbow has responded to rest, the Red Sox suddenly find themselves with major questions about the top three members of their rotation.
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That's because right-hander Nathan Eovaldi has been limited to a bullpen/opener role since returning from April arm surgery. Now add Price to the list.
With Price unable to go on Friday, the Red Sox will feature bullpen starts on Friday and Saturday vs. the Yankees before Rick Porcello and Eduardo Rodriguez take the final two games of the series on Sunday and Monday.
Price isn't the only player dealing with injuries. Infielder Michael Chavis reinjured his oblique and is probably done for the season.
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