Red Sox slow down Price’s rehab, may be out until June

The Red Sox have put star lefty David Price in a “slowdown” mode in his road to recover from an elbow injury and will likely be out until “sometime in June,” according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe.

Price, who has been on the disabled list the entire season after having his left elbow swell up following an outing in spring training on Feb. 28, had a throwing session Thursday prior to the Red Sox’s 4-1 win over the Blue Jays in 10 innings. After the session, Price talked with manager John Farrell, pitching coach Carl Willis and assistant athletic trainer Masai Takahashi, and they decided that Price will throw another bullpen session today, but will not be facing hitters as initially scheduled.

“Maybe a little bit of a slowdown, but certainly not a setback,” Farrell said to Abraham.

Abraham went on to write that any pitcher coming back from injury, “will face hitters once or twice in a controlled setting before starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment.” In addition, he said the Red Sox “have been consistent in saying Price would need to build up to 90 pitches” in order to come off the DL and that this process “would take approximately three weeks” to accomplish.

Price came into the year looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season with Boston after signing a seven-year, $217-million deal in the offseason. The former Cy Young winner and five-time All Star posted a 3.99 ERA — the highest ERA of his career since his rookie season when he had a 4.42 ERA — despite having a 17-9 record.

The Red Sox hope Price can return to form and join lefty Chris Sale and Rick Porcello in giving them a dynamic Big Three in the rotation.