BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora is sticking with David Price, saying Wednesday that the left-hander will start Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against Houston, despite a history of playoff struggles.
Speaking on MLB Network radio a day after the Red Sox eliminated the Yankees in the AL Division Series, Cora said he plans to use Chris Sale in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series that begins Saturday at Fenway Park. The first-year manager said Price, the loser in the Red Sox's only defeat in the ALDS, is still in line to start Game 2.
"We trust him," Cora said last week after Price allowed three runs and got just five outs in a 6-2 loss in Game 2. "He bounced back before. We'll talk to him and make a few adjustments, and we'll go from there."
Nathan Eovaldi and 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello are expected to start Games 3 and 4 after picking up wins in the same roles against the Yankees. The current Red Sox staff entered the series with an 0-19 postseason record as starters, and now everyone but Price has picked up a win. Price has won two games in relief.
In all, Price is 0-9 as a starter in the postseason, and his teams have lost all 10 of his career playoff starts, the longest such skid in postseason history. His latest outing was a five-out cameo in Game 2 against the Yankees, in which he gave up homers to Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.
But Cora expressed confidence in Price afterward, noting that Astros ace Justin Verlander and Red Sox Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez struggled in the playoffs early in their careers. Cora also said that Price pitched well out of the bullpen last year, making two appearances with 6 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against Houston.
Verlander had a 5.57 ERA through his first eight playoff starts, but he won three of them. Martinez struggled in the 2003 and early in the 2004 postseason but posted a win in his playoff debut in 1998 and threw 18 shutout innings over three appearances in 1999.
Price said after his start that he will pitch in any role that helps the team.
"I just want to win. That's it," Price said after his ALDS start. "My main goal is to win in the playoffs, to win a World Series. ... And whatever I need to do to help us do that, I'm fine with. But I know I'm more than capable of winning games as a starter in October. That's what I look forward to doing."