LOS ANGELES -- Twenty-two days ago, David Price was booed off the mound at Fenway Park. He had lasted just 10 batters in his start against the Yankees in the American League Division Series, served up two home runs and departed in the second inning as displeased fans reminded of his record in the postseason. It fell to 0-9 when the Red Sox lost that game. Editor's Picks The good and the bad of Clayton Kershaw's Octobers Everything you need to know about World Series Game 5 2018 MLB postseason: Complete coverage of every series 2 Related Now he's looking to pitch the Boston Red Sox to the World Series championship. In a late-night twist following Boston's remarkable comeback over the final three innings to beat the Dodgers in Game 4, manager Alex Cora closed his postgame news conference with a surprise announcement: Price, and not Chris Sale, will start Game 5. "We talked about it before the game and this is a good spot for David, in a National League park, to start a game," Cora said. "Obviously he's been throwing the ball well. It's not that we're playing with the lead, but we feel that for the team, for where we're at pitching-wise, it's good to go with David." The explanation feels a little insufficient, especially since it means starting Price on three days' rest -- not including his 13-pitch relief appearance in Game 3 -- instead of Sale on a regular four days' rest. But we also know enough about some stuff that is going on to speculate that Boston's decision is likely related to the health of Sale's left shoulder. His velocity has been down, his command has been off, they don't want him swinging the bat, his ability to pitch deep into the game is probably limited, he had the stomach illness, an extra couple days of rest wouldn't be the worst of ideas. That doesn't mean Game 5 will be all about Price trying to earn his place in Red Sox lore alongside Dave Roberts' steal or the bloody sock or Big Papi's heroics. If we've learned anything about this Red Sox roster, it's that it's 25 guys contributing -- OK, 24, since we're still waiting for Drew Pomeranz to make an appearance -- and Cora has weaved his way through his pitching staff like Maradona attacking the England defense in the 1986 World Cup. Can David Price deliver his third big win for the Red Sox this October? Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Even though Cora said Sale would still start Game 6 if the series goes back to Boston, he later added that Sale could be available in relief in the right situation -- likely meaning if they're ahead with a chance to close it out, especially given Craig Kimbrel's potential limited availability after throwing 56 the past two games. If he does use Sale and then weird stuff happens anyway and the Dodgers survive, Cora still has options for Games 6 and 7. Game 3 starter Rick Porcello could start Game 6 on three days' rest after throwing just 61 pitches. That would line up Nathan Eovaldi to start Game 7 if necessary after throwing 97 pitches in Friday's marathon. But Cora is focused on winning Game 5. He has repeatedly said the point of the postseason is to win today and then worry about tomorrow. With the 18-inning game, the bullpen has been used pretty extensively the past two days -- which is why Sale is a potential relief option. The pitch counts for the Boston relievers the past two days: Kimbrel: Two appearances, 56 pitches Joe Kelly: Two appearances, 42 pitches Matt Barnes: Two appearances, 34 pitches Heath Hembree: One appearance, 25 pitches Ryan Brasier: One appearance, 18 pitches Pomeranz: No appearances Heck, even Porcello is an option. Along with Price and Sale, he had even gone to Cora before Game 4 and volunteered to start. Sale had lobbied to get into Game 3 as a position player as Eduardo Nunez hobbled after a series of tumbles and crashes. Sure, it's a cliché narrative this time of the year, but the Red Sox are all in this together. Cora held a quick team meeting after the 18-inning game and the team responded by giving Eovaldi a standing ovation. Price rode with Eovaldi on the team bus back to the hotel. "Every single game and every single night someone else steps up," Kelly said after the Game 4 win. "It's been our mantra the whole entire season." Indeed, the team put up nine late runs even though Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez went a combined 0-for-8. In fact, until Pearce's home run off Kenley Jansen tied the game, the No. 1 through 4 hitters had been a combined 0-for-41 in Los Angeles. Before Pearce's home run, Mitch Moreland smacked the big three-run homer off Ryan Madson. Moreland hadn't homered since Aug. 22 -- 78 at-bats ago. "We don't rely on two guys," Cora reiterated after Game 4. "Brock (Holt) did a good job. Steve, he was amazing, Mitch with a big swing. We kept putting up good at-bats." As usual, everything Cora does seems to work. His only obvious questionable decision during this postseason was leaving Eduardo Rodriguez in too long on Saturday. Cora admitted he pushed him too far. Otherwise: Every moves turns to gold. Earlier this postseason, I asked Cora about Boston's decision to carry 11 pitches all postseason when the other three teams were carrying 12. He cited one reason was that by carrying Blake Swihart as a third catcher it allowed them to pinch-hit for their other catchers. Well, in Game 4, he hit for both catchers. The first time came in the seventh with Jackie Bradley Jr., but he still had Moreland to hit for the pitcher. In the ninth, with the game tied, Rafael Devers hit for Sandy Leon and drove in the go-ahead run. Swihart then caught the bottom of the ninth.<doc-sep>It will be all about the narrative when the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday. The pitching narrative that is. That’s because the Red Sox have shockingly named David Price their starting pitcher in the potential series clincher. The 32-year-old left-hander will take the ball against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw in a battle of pitchers who entered these playoffs labeled as postseason disappointments but have done a terrific job changing the headlines. That Price is being trusted in such a big spot wasn’t even thinkable three weeks ago. That he’s being selected to start over Chris Sale, the potential American League Cy Young award winner, shows how far he’s come in a short time. With that said, it sounds like Cora’s decision is just as much strategic than anything else. In explaining decision to start Price over Sale being related to NL Park, #RedSox Cora indicted Price could go just a couple innings and be hit for – “not an opener” but maybe similar — Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) October 28, 2018 A brief outing could seemingly put Price in play for Game 6 or Game 7 if it’s needed in Boston. Price has definitely adapted well to being used in different slots this postseason. In Game 2, Price went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits while securing his second win of the 2018 playoffs. He also won the Red Sox pennant clincher against the Houston Astros, which was his first postseason win in 10 starts. During Friday’s Game 3 marathon, Price recorded two outs in the ninth inning. Two outs that may have cemented Cora’s faith in him. To that end, Sale hasn’t been his usual self either his last two outings. Immediately after Game 1 of the ALCS he was hospitalized with a stomach ailment that prevented him from pitching again in that series. Sale lasted just four innings in Game 1 of the World Series. Story continues The Red Sox will surprisingly turn to David Price for the start in a potential World Series-clinching Game 5. (AP) The Red Sox have a commanding 3-1 series lead after winning Game 4 on Saturday. That gives them some flexibility to mix and match as they see fit. Sale would be in line to start Game 6 at Fenway Park on Tuesday if that game is necessary. More from Yahoo Sports: • Lakers finding out what life is like with LeBron James • Ranking all 32 teams’ Super Bowl chances • Wetzel: Tiger vs. Phil is becoming a clown show • Surprise: Cavs tickets are suddenly affordable<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES -- The working assumption immediately following the Red Sox's comeback win in Game 4 over the Dodgers is that lefty ace Chris Sale would remain on schedule and start the potential clincher Game 5 on Sunday night. Boston manager Alex Cora, however, made the surprise announcement during his postgame remarks that David Price would start Game 5 of the World Series. Price started Game 2 back in Boston and threw 13 pitches in relief in Game 3, so he'll be on short rest and then some for Game 5. Prior to Game 4, Cora implied that Price would be available in relief, so that's in some ways a positive sign insofar as his current fatigue level is concerned. Price is coming off a strong start in Game 2 against the Dodgers and before that an even stronger start against the Astros in Game 5 of the ALCS. Cora's obvious confidence in the left-hander and that recent run have buried talk of Price's postseason woes, at least for now. The velocity rebound he's enjoyed since late in the ALCS bodes well, short rest notwithstanding. As well -- and as noted throughout this series -- the Dodgers' offense this season has been much less effective against left-handed pitching, and that's especially the case when the lefty in question has Price's stuff and smarts. The related matter is the decision to move away from Sale. Sale has struggled with velocity loss and faltering command in recent starts, and of course he dealt with shoulder issues throughout the latter half of the season. Circling back to Cora's presser before Game 4, he was asked about Sale's and Price's status for Saturday night. "Not Chris," he said. "Not Chris." That sounds emphatic because it was. This could be a simple matter of advance planning being in place, or it could be a hint that Sale is, at the very least, in need of more time off. Whatever ails Sale is obviously not grave enough to merit a roster move, at least yet, but his unavailability out of the pen on three days' rest in Game 4 and then getting bumped from his scheduled Game 5 start run some red flags up the pole. It seems we have four possibilities for Sale moving forward: The plan is to "piggyback" a not-quite-right Sale and a short-rest Price in Game 4 -- i.e., go to Sale after getting an abbreviated start out of Price. Most often you do this with pitchers of the opposite hand, but, again, it's best to attack the 2018 Dodgers with lefties. The Red Sox want Sale to get extra rest before starting him in a potential Game 6 back in Boston. The Red Sox think Sale is presently compromised to the extent that he's best used out of the bullpen over the remainder of the series. Sale is hurt, and the Sox are trying to hold off disabling him for as long as possible (this one is, obviously, purely speculative). At this point, let's note that Cora, soon after declaring that Price would start Game 5, said Sale would start Game 6 if there is one. Of course, he was also tabbed to start Game 5, and as we've seen things change. If the Red Sox lose Game 5 and Sale doesn't pitch out of the pen for any length, then presumably he'll go in Game 6. Sure, we'll go with that for now. Insofar as Game 5 is concerned, the Sox are better off in the bullpen than you might think given that they'll be just two days removed that 18-inning absurdity. Drew Pomeranz is still available and unused, so he's the obvious long man should such a need arise. Ryan Brasier, one of Cora's go-tos in the postseason, didn't pitch in Game 4. Matt Barnes threw just 11 pitches in Game 4. Yes, he threw more than that in Game 3, and if he appears in Game 5 then that'll make three straight days of work. Barnes, however, did pitch three straight days on one occasion during the regular season, so it's not a foreign concept for him. Heath Hembree did not pitch in Game 5 and has been lightly used this postseason. As noted, it's also possible that Sale is available out of the pen in Game 5. The point is that there's a reasonable path through nine innings for Cora. As for Price, he's made just two starts on three days' rest in his career. One was back in 2008, and the other was that aforementioned strong outing against the Astros in Game 5 of this year's ALCS. Even within the last two weeks, Price has proved he's capable of shutting down a powerful offense in a Game 5 on the road, on short rest, and with his team one win away from a series triumph. The Red Sox on Sunday will obviously be hoping that recent history is a reliable guide.<doc-sep>Ted Berg USA TODAY Sports LOS ANGELES — In a surprise announcement following the Boston Red Sox’s 9-6 comeback win in Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday, manager Alex Cora said that David Price, not Chris Sale, will start Game 5 as the club tries to finish off the Los Angeles Dodgers and secure the championship. Sale, who threw only four innings in Game 1 of the series, would have been working on regular rest in Game 5. He spoke to reporters before the game Saturday -- as is customary for the next day’s starting pitchers -- and did not say anything to suggest he would not be available on Sunday. Price warmed up in the bullpen during Game 4 but did not appear in the contest. MORE FROM GAME 4 Price pitched ⅔ of an inning in relief in the 18-inning marathon Game 3. His last start came in a six-inning effort in Game 2 of the series on Wednesday, meaning he will be starting on three days’ rest for both the second time this postseason and only the second time since 2008. “We feel like David is good tomorrow,” Cora said Saturday. “We talked about it before the game, and this is a good spot for David, in a National League park to start a game. Obviously he's been throwing the ball well. “It's not that we're playing with the lead, but we feel that for the team, for where we're at pitching-wise it's good to go with David. We talked about it the whole day and we decided -- I just talked to Chris and David -- that's what we're going to do.” Price entered October with a reputation for poor postseason performance and did little to allay those concerns in a rough start in Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees and a shaky one in Game 2 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros. But after he warmed up in the bullpen during Game 4 of the ALCS, he pitched a gem on short rest in the clinching Game 5. He followed that success with six solid innings in the Red Sox’s Game 2 win in the World Series. Sale could be available out of the bullpen on Sunday, but Cora said he will start Game 6 back in Boston on Tuesday if it becomes necessary.<doc-sep>
LOS ANGELES -- After the Boston Red Sox stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers by rallying from a 4-0 deficit to score nine runs in the final three innings and pull off a 9-6 victory in Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday, manager Alex Cora made another stunning announcement as he was walking out the door after his postgame news conference: "David Price is starting tomorrow." One reporter yelled out, "You buried the lede!" Cora responded, "Nobody asked." Nobody asked because the Red Sox announced earlier Saturday that Chris Sale would be the Game 5 starter, and the left-hander met with the media, as the starting pitcher for the next game usually does. Cora said Sale was fine and still the scheduled starter for Game 6 if the series returned to Boston, but he said he and his staff discussed the idea earlier in the day, and he informed Price and Sale after Game 4 that the team was changing plans. Cora's stated explanation was that the team likes Price in the National League park, which could also be a reflection of not wanting Sale to hit. Sale has been battling a sore shoulder since August and had two stints on the disabled list. "We talked about it before the game, and this is a good spot for David, in a National League park, to start a game. Obviously, he's been throwing the ball well," Cora said. "It's not that we're playing with the [3-1] lead, but we feel that for the team, for where we're at pitching-wise, it's good to go with David." Sale lost a reported 10 pounds from a stomach illness following his start in Game 1 of the AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros. His velocity on his four-seam fastball, which averaged 97 to 98 mph during his summer peak, fell to 92.0 mph against the Astros in the ALCS, though he rebounded to 93.7 in his Game 1 start against the Dodgers. The Red Sox have insisted all along that Sale is fine, though clearly he isn't the same pitcher he was in the first half of the season. Earlier Saturday, Sale said, "I'm ready to go. I'm excited for the opportunity." Still, the announcement in the shift to Price was a surprise. The veteran lefty started Game 2 on Wednesday, throwing 88 pitches over six innings. He then threw 13 pitches in a relief appearance in Game 3. Obviously, the shift to Price was a late decision by Cora and his staff. Otherwise, he wouldn't have appeared in Game 3. Price will be starting on three days' rest since his last start. He did that in Game 5 of the ALCS -- when the Red Sox also skipped a Sale start -- and had the best outing of his postseason career, tossing six scoreless innings with a playoff-career high of nine strikeouts. Against the Dodgers in Game 2, he gave up two runs in six innings. Price, who entered this postseason with an 0-8 record in nine career postseason starts and lost his first start in the ALDS, now has won two in a row. On Sunday, he'll be matched against Clayton Kershaw, another starter with a somewhat checkered postseason history. Kershaw, slim chance as it might be, could be pitching his final game in a Dodgers uniform. He's expected to exercise an opt-out clause in his contract and elect to test free agency, though the predictions are that he will still return to the Dodgers. It all means that for the first time in a long time, Price will be making a postseason start in which there is more pressure on the other starter. Kershaw will be pitching to keep the Dodgers' season alive.