Winless as postseason starter, David Price hoping for turnaround in Game 2 start

At this point, David Price's postseason struggles are hardly a secret. The numbers are there to see, and there's no sense hiding from them.

The veteran lefty has never won a start in the postseason in his career, a stat that everyone seems to have long ago committed to memory. In nine playoff stats, Price is 0-8 with one no decision and a gaudy 5.74 ERA.

Price, too, understands his history, but prefers not to dwell on it as he gets ready to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Yankees Saturday night at Fenway Park.

"Just another game,'' offered Price when asked how he avoids dwelling on past failures and putting too much pressure on himself. "Don't treat it any differently than any other game I've been a part of this year or in my career. That's what I need to do (Saturday). That's what I look forward to doing.''

When asked if that suggested that he once put too much pressure on himself and has learned from the error of his ways, Price joked: "No, I just don't have an answer for you guys. I've been asked that quite a while now. I can't really put my finger on it. That was my generic answer.''

Beyond his struggles in October, Price has had his difficulties with the Yankees. In his first outing against them earlier this year, he left after a poor first inning, complaining of numbness in his pitching hand. Then, on July 1, Price was hammered in a nationally telecast game at Yankee Stadium.

If nothing else, that start -- in which the Yankees teed off for eight earned runs in 3.2 innings -- forced Price into making some necessary adjustments. He began using both sides of the plate more.

"That did a lot for me,'' said Price.

The numbers reflect that. After the All-Star break, Price was as consistent and effective as any starter in the league, going 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his final 11 starts.

Game 2 will represent his first post-season start since October of 2016. The Red Sox reached the Division Series last year, too, but Price was rebounding from a forearm issue in the second half and didn't have time to ramp up his arm strength enough to start. Instead, he contributed -- and pitched effectively -- out of the bullpen.

Tonight allows for an opportunity for a fresh start, to apply some of the changes he's made in his approach and see if that can't change his October results.

"Yeah, it's been 300-something games (since my last postseason start),'' noted Price. "It's been a while. I look forward to getting back to that point, going out there and starting a baseball game and giving us a chance to win.''

Price has had plenty of time to consider his failures in the postseason and hopes he's arrived at a better way to tackle the pressures.

"Just focus on every pitch, take it pitch by pitch,'' he said. "Don't worry about the last one, don't worry about the next one -- just focus on that pitch.

Thanks to his spotty history in the playoffs, Price knows there will be plenty of attention paid to his own performance. That comes with the territory when you haven't responded well in the season's biggest games, and, not incidentally, when you're the game highest-paid starting pitcher.

Still, Price doesn't want to make this all about himself.

"If I lose the entire playoffs and we win a World Series,'' said Price, "I'll take that. That's what I'm here for. I don't want this to be about me not winning. I want to go out there and throw the ball well and help the Red Sox win. Whether we're up 1-0 or down 1-0 or whatever it is, I want the Red Sox to win (Saturday night). That's what I worry about.''