BOSTON — It’s no secret that David Price hasn’t had the best start to his time in Boston. He is confident, however, that a recent tweak to his delivery will begin to change that.

Price said Tuesday that his delivery is feeling “more natural” after he worked on it Monday during a bullpen session. He watched video from last season and said he is trying to get back to a delivery in which his hands are separating a little bit more, and are in sync with his legs during his windup.

He said he made a lot of progress Monday.

“I definitely felt it,” Price said. “I felt it just playing catch before I even got into it. So it was good.”

The lefty has been under the microscope since he arrived as the new ace of Boston’s rotation after signing a seven-year, $217 million contract in the offseason.

In seven starts this season, he’s pitched into the eighth inning only once, posting a 6.75 ERA and .278 opponent batting average. He’s never finished a season with an ERA higher than 4.42, and that was in 2009, his second major league season, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The thing that tipped Price off that an adjustment might be warranted was that he wasn’t getting the drive on his left that he was accustomed to off the rubber.

“That’s where I always get my finish from is from my legs. I wasn’t able to do that before,” he said.

He thinks the change will allow him to get much better velocity.

“I hope so. I feel like that’s kind of been the case every season,” Price said. “The velocity it creeps up more and more as the season goes along. Hopefully this will be a step in the right direction.”

The issues haven’t affected Price’s ability to get victories. At 4-1, he is second on the team in wins. Manager John Farrell said Price has done a good job of handling the struggles and the attention he’s gotten because of it.

“I think he fully anticipated the attention that signing the deal and coming to Boston – or just being in Boston itself – set aside the contract,” Farrell said. “I think he’s fully anticipated the passion of our fan base. The fine-toothed comb that things get put under. He’s a very strong person (with) utmost strong character, and a guy that will come through these experiences.”

Price said he’s always taken pride in being able to make adjustments and put this one in the same category as past ones.

He’ll get to see his progress in a game situation during his next start, which is scheduled for Thursday against Houston.

He thinks making the adjustment might be the thing that helps clear his mind.

“I’m sure it can. Absolutely,” he said. “I’m mentally strong. I’m not going to harp on these seven starts or my last start. I’m going to go out there on Thursday and I’m going to be ready to go for the Astros.”

Related Stories