Red Sox can survive a brief injured list stint from David Price

The Boston Red Sox rotation suffered a setback with Davi Price going on the injured list but they can survive without him in the short term.

Just as their rotation was starting to find its groove, the Boston Red Sox lost the pitcher who has arguably been their best starter this season. David Price‘s injury is a discouraging setback yet one this team can survive as long as it’s only a brief absence.

Price was placed on the 10-day injured list with left elbow tendinitis. The move was made retroactive to May 3, and while he won’t necessarily be ready to return when first eligible, it doesn’t seem as though he’ll miss much longer than that. The lefty told reporters that his latest elbow issue is nothing like the one he endured two years ago and he only expects to miss a start or two.

Expect the Red Sox to tread carefully with their prized pitcher, so we’ll assume he’s going to miss two and perhaps three starts. Price was originally scheduled to pitch today and the earliest he can be activated is May 14, the date he would have been projected to take his next turn following an off day for the team on Monday. It would be no surprise if the Red Sox held Price back at least until the next cycle through the rotation.

Josh Smith‘s first start in a Red Sox uniform was underwhelming. The 31-year old coughed up a grand slam in the second inning and was given the hook after getting into a jam with one out in the fourth against the Baltimore Orioles. He doesn’t inspire much confidence as a Price replacement but he doesn’t need to be. The Red Sox can get by with a four-man rotation thanks to a trio of scheduled off days coming up.

Boston will send Hector Velazquez to the mound tonight, a spot starter who has already been filling in for the injured Nathan Eovaldi. He will be followed by Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Rick Porcello. The team has yet to announce a starter for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners but Thursday’s off day allows them to bring Velazquez back on regular rest, negating the need for a fifth starter.

That bumps up everyone else in the rotation but another off day on May 13 means Sale can open the series against the Colorado Rockies with a full five days of rest between starts. Rodrigeuz would complete the two-game series on his regular four days of rest, followed by another off day on May 16. Porcello would take the mound on Friday, May 17 against the Houston Astros with five days of rest between starts.