For four innings on Monday, Tampa Bay’s David Price looked like he was going to make history.  Showing off the stuff that made him the No.1 overall pick in 2007, Price shut down the Orioles allowing no hits in the first four frames.  He ended up witha no-decision, but the end result did nothing to diminish just how impressive the big lefty looked in his first career start.

Price’s final line: 5.1 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts.  "I pounded the zone, challenged their hitters, worked out of a couple jams. So not too bad," Price said. "I left us in position to win the game."  Actually, he got into just one jam.  He loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs, but that only happened on an error by Evan Longoria and two bloopers.  Price walked in a run and allowed a sac fly but got out of the inning.  He showed that he is indeed major league ready with his mature ability to pitch out of a jam and not panic particularly after the first four innings had gone so well.  He now has a 2.38 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 11.2 big league innings.

Price may or may not get another start this weekend as Tampa Bay gets ready for the playoffs.  If he does, he is certainly worthy of being in your lineups if you need one final start in your fantasy league.  I think next season he will earn a spot in the starting rotation.  The Rays may seem set with James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, and Edwin Jackson but Price is fantastic.  Sonnanstine would be the guy I would replace because he isn’t nearly as good as his won-loss record (13-8) suggests.

David Price is a legit ace in the making.