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David Price now has more pressure on his shoulders than ever before

By Cody Rivera

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox watches the game against the New York Yankees from the dugout in Game One of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox watches the game against the New York Yankees from the dugout in Game One of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Red Sox barely escaped with a win over the Yankees in Game 1. Can David Price put them in position to do the same in Game 2?

By the skin of their teeth, the Boston Red Sox held on for a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday night.

A win is always a win, and the Red Sox will certainly take it. But it was an excruciatingly ugly win. Despite J.D. Martinez getting Boston on the board early with a three-run homer over the Green Monster, and the Sox eventually stretching their lead to 5-0, the bullpen proved once again that it absolutely cannot be trusted.

Ryan Brasier, Brandon Workman, and Matt Barnes all entered the game in relief of Chris Sale, who pitched five and a third shutout innings, and nearly surrendered the five-run lead. Even flame-throwing closer Craig Kimbrel gave up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the ninth before finally shutting the door.

With Boston’s dumpster fire of a bullpen on full display in Game 1, there is now more pressure than ever being placed on the shoulders of Game 2 starter David Price.

Price had a pretty solid season in 2018, going 16-7 with a 3.58 ERA. But he’s pretty well known for breaking down in do-or-die situations when the lights are at their brightest. We saw it happen a couple of times during nationally televised games against the Yankees this season.

Game 2 isn’t exactly a must-win game for the Red Sox, but with the bullpen looking as disastrous as it did in Game 1, it would be hugely beneficial if they could go to Yankee Stadium with a 2-0 series lead. That’s not going to happen if the Sox end up needing their relief pitchers for several innings.

What the Red Sox need from Price in Game 2 is a lights-out performance, preferably six, seven, maybe even eight innings with no more than one or two runs allowed. And he has to do it with the entire world watching. For Price, that is A LOT of pressure. History has not been on his side in these kinds of situations.

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It’s an unfair thing to ask, but since bullpen guys have proven that they aren’t capable of doing their job, the Red Sox have to rely on their starters to go deep into games on a nightly basis, and for their hitters to bring home an overabundance of runs.

That’s not exactly a World Series-winning formula, but stranger things have happened in baseball. All we know is that in Game 2 on Saturday night, we will see what David Price is truly made of.

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