The question has been answered. David Price will start the Boston Red Sox' Sunday night clash with the New York Yankees.
The Sox activated Price from paternity leave on Sunday. He had been placed there on Friday in a procedural move that allowed the team to carry extra bench depth in the lead-up to their doubleheader against the Yankees.
Price will try to put an end to the Red Sox' seven-game losing streak. However, he has struggled in his three most recent starts, posting an 0-2 record and logging an 8.16 ERA and allowing five homers. So, it may be a tough task, especially given his past troubles with the Sox pitching in Yankee Stadium.
In addition to Price's activation, the team made some other smaller roster moves. They are calling up righthanded pitcher Ryan Weber (1-1, 5.25) from Triple-A Pawtucket. He will provide depth in a bullpen that has been taxed quite a bit during the team's losing streak.
To make room for these Price and Weber, the Red Sox had to send down three players, as they had an extra player on their roster for Saturday's doubleheader. They ended up being pitchers Josh Smith and Colten Brewer, and infielder Marco Hernandez.
Of that group, the 26-year-old Brewer has spent the most time on the roster, appearing in 48 games and logging a 4.31 ERA. He pitched in both doubleheader games, so perhaps the team is just looking to get him some rest in the coming days.
Boston Red Sox
Smith pitched four-innings in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Saturday and has pitched in 11 games with the Sox this year posting a 4.84 ERA. He also logged one of the season's most unlikely saves earlier in the year.
Hernandez has been hitting well at the major-league level, .333 to be exact, but the Red Sox opted to keep the righthanded Sam Travis on the roster over him. Travis gives them a better platoon split option, as he and Michael Chavis can play more against lefthanded pitchers while Brock Holt and Mitch Moreland can get time against righthanded pitchers.
Still, the big news coming out of these moves is the activation of Price. If he can't get the Red Sox back on track Sunday night, the season may continue to slip away.
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