While much of the focus went to Mookie Betts after the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox, it wasn’t that long ago David Price ranked among the best starting pitchers in baseball.
The Dodgers are optimistic, if not confident, the veteran left-hander will recapture his previous form and be a key member of their starting rotation this season. Some of that stems from Price undergoing surgery to correct an issue in his left wrist.
After a deliberate build up, Price made his Spring Training debut but left plenty to be desired. He labored through 1.1 innings and later admitted to fighting nerves and shaky legs in his first game with the Dodgers.
Price was much improved against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, explaining that was related to a better feel with his overall pitch mix, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“Changeup was good today. I didn’t throw any really good ones my last start, so I worked on that in between outings. Just throwing it off my fastball and got some good results from it. Commanded my fastball to both sides of the plate, felt good with the cutter. Just felt like a good step in the right direction.”
Price also said he benefitted from not dealing with the same nervousness as his debut, but noted that feeling will return come the regular season:
“I wasn’t shaking out there in the first inning this time. It felt more normal today. The first start of Spring Training, I always have nerves and butterflies; same thing for the first start of the regular season or whatever it is. Today, it felt more normal. I didn’t have the butterflies, (but) I’m sure they’ll be back.”
Facing a Rockies lineup that included Garrett Hampson, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado, Price collected seven strikeouts and carved his way through three hitless innings. The lone baserunner he allowed was an Arenado walk with two outs in the first inning.
Price punctuated his start by striking out the side in the third inning. Even with the uneven performance in his debut, the 34-year-old has 10 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched over two Cactus League starts.
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