David Price. (Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- With first pitch at Fenway Park on Opening Day rapidly approaching, the Red Sox can hardly wait to get started--especially on the heels of a five-game winning streak, including three against the visiting Rays.
It's also a new season for ace David Price, both on and off the field.
Injuries limited the lefty to 81 1/3 total innings last year in the regular season and playoffs, after he led the majors in 2016.
And when he wasn't on the shelf, he was often on the news for all the wrong reasons. There was the "manager John" thing, or the Dennis Eckersley confrontation on the team plane, or the way he verbally undressed members of the media.
If not for providing a spark out of the bullpen the last several weeks of the year, it would have been all bad for the veteran.
But the happier, healthier Price has found peace--and so far, success. He worked seven shut-out innings against his former Rays in his first start of the season, and he's certainly a fan of new skipper Alex Cora.
"It just feels like he's one of the guys," Price said. "He doesn't feel like a manager, and I just feel like that's good. Especially with the amount of young guys we have on this team, for him to have the ability to go around and have a different relationship with everybody in the clubhouse, it's cool."
First pitch is Thursday at 2:05 p.m. Price will be opposed by Yonny Chirinos.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports