David Price returns to Tampa Bay for the first time since getting traded to the Detroit Tigers. After winning Cy Young awards with the Rays, Price was dealt to the Tigers after failing to secure a long-term contract with Tampa Bay following a difference in opinion on his salary. Now, Price headlines a marquee pitching group in Detroit and returns to Tampa to prove why he wants a nice pay raise in his next contract.
Price had been with the Rays since 2008 before getting traded a month ago. He went 82-47 with a 3.18 ERA in 175 games for the team. He helped them earn the AL Pennant. He also won the Cy Young in 2012. Upon returning, Tampa Bay treated him with a standing ovation and video presentation honoring all he accomplished with the team. However, now Price is focused on getting Detroit to the postseason and beyond, joining a rotation filled with award-winning arms. He is not thrilled about returning to Tampa Bay.
"Pitching against friends is always the worst," Price said, via MLB's official website. "I'm definitely going to have to be a little bit more focused on Thursday. I spent a lot of time here. I built a lot of memories, made a lot of long-lasting friendships and stuff like that. Without Rays baseball, I'm not myself."
Since arriving in Detroit, Price is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA. He put together his best start with the team on Saturday when he beat out Felix Hernandez, giving up just three hits over eight innings. Now, he faces Alex Cobb who has been helping replace the production of Price for the Rays. In his last nine starts, Cobb is 6-0 with a 2.24 ERA. He has given up just four runs while striking out 40 with a 3-0 record in his last five starts. In his last start against the Yankees, Cobb gave up six hits in seven innings. Against Detroit he is 1-1 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts.
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