He’ll help on the mound Larry Doby Jersey , but that’s not all."Per Brooks Baseball, the average speed on Price’s fastball has continued to decrease slightly from year to year since 2013 and sat at a career-low 93.14 mph last season. That’s a full three ticks slower than his 2010 average (96.28 mph) and 1 mph slower than 2017 (94.47). The decrease in velocity has led to a little more creativity. His changeup is more effective than ever with an average whiff percentage of 21.09 over the last four seasons, compared to 14.27% from 2011-2014. Price seems to be mixing in the cutter and change more often with the usage of both trending upwards over the last few years, which has contributed to a more off balance experience for opposing hitters. Even with the decrease in velocity, he still posted a 9.05 K/9 in 2018, slightly above his career-average of 8.68, per Fangraphs. If Sale hopes to maintain similar consistency throughout his transition into an older version of himself, Price is not a bad guy to be around. I don’t think anyone wants to see this year go to waste. Even with a few recent contract extensions, the time is still ticking on Boston’s core — especially the offense. J.D. Martinez can opt out after this season, while Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts are both free agents after 2020, in addition to Mitch Moreland, Brock Holt and Steve Pearce. It physically pains me to write this, but if Mookie and the Sox can’t agree on an extension next offseason, you have to seriously consider trading him before he hits free agency — but that’s for another day. Obviously, that’s also worst-case scenario but I can’t imagine Dealin’ Dave Dombrowski letting Betts walk for nothing. If we are nearing the end of this era Bob Feller Jersey , it won’t feel right if it ends with the Sox at the bottom looking up. The first few weeks of this year have been frustrating to watch, especially in contrast with the 17-2 start in 2018 that keyed Boston’s fourth title in 15 years. Not much has changed on the roster, so I am struggling to understand how things can be this bad. The 2-8 start for the Sox was the worst record through 10 games for a defending champion since the 1998 Florida Marlins, who finished the season 54-108. And six of Boston’s next 13 games are against the Rays. You know the old saying: you can’t win the division in the first month of the year, but you can certainly lose it. Hopefully, Price can help make sure that doesn’t happen. MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gio Gonzalez is getting comfortable with his new team.The left-hander pitched six smooth innings on his 33rd birthday and Jesus Aguilar hit a three-run homer in the Milwaukee Brewers‘ 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.Manny Pina also had a three-run shot and Aguilar finished with four RBIs as he reached 103 for the season. Gonzalez’s stellar showing helped the Brewers boost their lead for the top NL wild card to three games over St. Louis, which lost to Atlanta earlier.The Brewers also moved within 2½ games of the first-place Cubs in the NL Central. Chicago lost 9-0 at Arizona.Gonzalez (9-11) was acquired in a trade with Washington on Aug. 31 in an effort to bolster the Brewers’ starting rotation. He has picked up a victory in two of his three starts with Milwaukee, and the Brewers have won all three games.“It’s been easy to play with these guys because they make you feel welcome,” Gonzalez said. “There’s no added pressure. Just go out there and play the best you can.”He allowed just two hits Wednesday — both singles — while striking out five and walking two.Reds right-hander Matt Harvey (7-9), a pitcher the Brewers nearly acquired a few weeks ago before a proposed deal fell through, gave up Aguilar’s game-changing home run.Aguilar, however, said his infield hit in the first inning for his 100th RBI set up his big night.“I was thinking about the RBI almost every night,” he explained. “After that, I’m good. It was an unbelievable feeling. When I get that 100 http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , I’m a new guy.”A leadoff walk to Gonzalez put Harvey in trouble in the third inning. Christian Yelich reached on a one-out infield hit when no one covered first base on a bouncer fielded by Harvey.Aguilar followed with a high drive into the right-field bleachers, his team-leading 33rd home run of the season, to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead.Milwaukee broke open the game in the sixth on a three-run homer by Pina, who worked a 13-pitch at-bat, finally belting a hanging slider from Harvey into the left-field bleachers. Domingo Santana tripled and Mike Moustakas was intentionally walked before Pina’s ninth homer of the season extended the lead to 7-0.The Reds had a conference on the mound during the long at-bat, but it didn’t bother Pina.“I was so focused, man,” he said. “After they gave an intentional walk to Moose, I was like, I need to do something this at-bat. He threw me pitches inside, outside, changeups, fastballs, sliders.“He’s kind of tight. I knew he was going to hang any pitch and that’s the pitch I hit for a homer.”Harvey was not happy with his outing, which dropped him to 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA in six career starts against the Brewers. He allowed seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.“The whole start was not good Joe Carter Jersey ,” he said. “I have to be better.”Corey Knebel, Junior Guerra and Freddy Peralta finished up for Milwaukee, each pitching one inning in the combined two-hitter.CHASE STILL ONBrewers manager Craig Counsell has not given up on catching the Cubs for a division title.“We’ve got nine games to go,” Counsell said. “We’ve got plenty of baseball left. There are going to be some great moments. There are going to be plenty of tough moments. That’s all still ahead of us.“We’re just ready for it to happen. We’ve put ourselves in a great position to enjoy the last 10 days of the season.”The Brewers have six road games remaining (three vs. Pittsburgh and three vs. St. Louis) and the final three at home (against Detroit).Milwaukee ended its homestand with a 3-3 record against the Pirates and Reds.TRAINER’S ROOMBrewers: CF Lorenzo Cain was not in the lineup after being taken out of Tuesday’s game with a right ribcage injury. Counsell said he wanted to be cautious with Cain, who ranks fourth in the NL in batting average (.308). The Brewers are off Thursday and Cain will be reassessed before Friday’s series opener in Pittsburgh. “I definitely don’t want to miss a game,” Cain said. “They told me that I’m not looking myself up there right now.” Santana got the start in right field — his first game as a starter since June 12 — and Yelich moved to center with Curtis Granderson in left. Infielder Travis Shaw was back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch Tuesday and leaving the game with a bruised right knee.UP NEXTReds: LHP Cody Reed (0-2, 4.32 ERA) will make his fifth consecutive appearance as a starter as Cincinnati opens a four-game series in Miami. He posted a career-high 10 strikeouts in five innings against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, allowing no runs and two hits in a game the Reds lost 1-0.Brewers: RHP Jhoulys Chacin (14-8, 3.54 ERA) opens a three-game set in Pittsburgh. He has lost his last three starts, including a 3-2 defeat (allowed three hits, two runs) against the Pirates on Sunday. He is 2-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 career starts vs. the Pirates.