David Price placed on 10-day disabled list with elbow inflammation

David Price will not be making his scheduled start Friday. Instead, the Red Sox announced, Price has been placed on the 10-day disabled list for left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Tuesday. If his health permits, Price would be eligible to be taken off the DL and pitch a week from today.

Rick Porcello is expected to take the mound tonight instead, pushing each starter up a day in the rotation. The day off yesterday allows for the rotation to pitch on normal rest.

The setback comes almost two months to the day after Price made his first start of the season. He spent the first couple months of the season on the DL with elbow troubles. Since returning, Price has had his share of ups and downs (on and off the field), but has given the Red Sox a steady presence behind Chris Sale in the rotation. In 66 innings, Price has managed a 3.82 earned-run average and five wins.

Given the swirl of off-the-field commotion around Price, the reaction has been... well... a mess (I'm not going to link the plethora of stupid reactions, but many of them are coming from the usual suspects if you're curious). There was rampant speculation that had Price pitched tonight, he would have been showered with boos from the home crowd. This would have been his first start at Fenway since the Dennis Eckersley debacle on the plane out west.

Let me just say this: if you think David Price is forcing a DL stint because he doesn't want to face the jeers from the Fenway crowd I'm not sure I can help you.

As for what matters — the health of his elbow — that is a serious concern as the season progresses toward October. Back in April, rumors circulated that Price may need season-ending surgery before it was ultimately deemed unnecessary. Price returned, obviously, but the concern over the elbow will only mount after this most recent setback. This hurts the Red Sox in the short term, and could significantly impact them in the long term as well. If Price is unable to pitch, the Red Sox are worse off.