ARLINGTON, Texas — In the fourth inning Sunday night, shortly after his team took a 2-0 lead over the Texas Rangers, David Price walked over to Mark Lowe in the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen and told him how much he wanted to pitch in that game.
He never got the opportunity, as the Blue Jays cruised to a 5-1 victory on the backs of their normal rotation of relievers. But he almost did.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was seriously considering putting Price in the game, and had Price start warming up in the seventh inning with every intention of pitching in the game.
Here are the situations that would have led to the 30-year-old Cy Young winner making his first relief appearance since 2010, according to the man himself:
In the bottom of the seventh inning, if Aaron Loup had not retired Rougned Odor, Price would have come in to face Robinson Chirinos and any subsequent batters in the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, if Hanser Alberto and Delino DeShields reached base against Aaron Sanchez, Price would have come in to face Shin-Soo Choo, Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland.
In the bottom of the ninth, if Roberto Osuna had gotten into any kind of trouble, Price would have come in to save or lose the game.
Price stayed hot throughout all three of those innings but said after the game he doesn’t think that will affect his ability to pitch in Monday’s Game 4 or a potential fifth game back in Toronto. He was slated to throw a short side session Monday night regardless, and if the series does go five games, he’ll more than likely get that Wednesday start at Rogers Centre.
“We have to talk to him,” Gibbons said. “I expect he’ll be fine. If not, [Marcus] Stroman will be available [Monday] and then if we’re fortunate to get to a fifth game then Price would get that one.”
Stroman was also quietly ready to enter Monday night’s game if needed, and in Game 4 the 24-year-old will likely end up filling the emergency relief role Price did in Game 3.
Price had a huge grin on his face as he talked about his bullpen activities, and said he enjoyed the experience of being a reliever for the night.
“Being a starting pitcher is cool because you know when you’re going to pitch,” Price said. “But being an every day player or reliever you might get to play every day. And to me that’s really fun.”
Price also said he’d likely feature all of his pitches if he came in as a reliever instead of narrowing down his repertoire, and that the only change he’d make would be to throw less pitches in the bullpen as he was warming up.
“I’ve sat in the bullpen a couple times throughout the year. It’s a different game out there; it’s a different perspective. It’s fun—I enjoy it,” Price said. “If I would’ve never gotten up, I still probably would’ve thrown a couple pitches off the mound just to stay loose. I’m still young in my eyes, even though I’m 30 now. My body bounces back really quick. So, I’ll be ready for tomorrow and Game 5.”