Dodgers likely to activate David Price on Monday

Dodgers left-hander David Price is close to a return, as manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic’s Fabian Aradaya (Twitter links) and other reporters that he expects Price will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks.

It makes for a relatively quick return for Price, who hit the IL due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain back on April 26.  Assuming Price is indeed activated tomorrow, he’ll end up missing 20 days of action — not a bad outcome considering initial forecasts projected Price to be sidelined for somewhere the neighborhood of four to six weeks.

Price’s return will being a much-needed fresh arm to a Los Angeles bullpen that has been ravaged by injuries, though Price did post a 5.59 ERA over his first 9 2/3 innings.  Five of Price’s six earned runs, however, came in his first two outings, which were his first games in over a year since Price opted out of the 2020 season.  The southpaw’s numbers over his five games prior to the IL placement were much more encouraging, as Price had a 1.50 ERA and nine strikeouts over six innings.

Price will indeed be returning as a relief pitcher, as Roberts noted earlier this month, since the Dodgers plan to use Tony Gonsolin as the replacement for the injured Dustin May in the starting rotation.  Shoulder inflammation has kept Gonsolin from pitching this season, though a three-inning simulated game this week will be the next step in the right-hander’s rehab plan.  Once Gonsolin is able to pitch four innings, Roberts said he’d be okay with Gonsolin rejoining the Dodgers, so the manager’s opinion could also reflect the organization’s broader view.