BOSTON -- A topsy-turvy season for Red Sox lefty David Price has added another twist, as the starting pitcher missed his start Friday and went back on the 10-day disabled list -- retroactive to Tuesday -- with left elbow inflammation seven hours before he was scheduled to pitch on Friday night against the Royals.
The Red Sox will get a better indication of how severe the injury is in the coming days, but hope his absence is brief.
Manager John Farrell said the plan is for Price to attempt to play catch early next week.
"I do not know if he'll miss the season. I'm not anticipating that at this time," Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "He has inflammation in his elbow, his arm, where he had it before. I think we're really more in an evaluation stage at this point. We'll see where he progresses from here. We'll keep working with him and try to get him back on the field as soon as possible. I don't really know when that will be."
The injury to Price comes with the non-waiver Trade Deadline looming at 4 p.m. ET Monday.
Prior to Price's injury, Dombrowski said starting pitching wouldn't be a focus for the Red Sox heading into the Deadline. Did Price's injury change his line of thinking?
"No, not really," Dombrowski said. "I guess, like I've said all along, we're really open to getting better however we can. We feel comfortable. Of course we want David Price to start, but if not, we feel comfortable with Doug Fister moving into the rotation. He'll take his spot."
Even without Price, the Red Sox have a solid front four of Chris Sale, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez and Thomas Pomeranz.
This is the second time this season Price has dealt with an elbow problem. Price strained his elbow Feb. 28, and didn't start his season until May 29.
Price went 5-3 with a 3.82 ERA upon his return from the original elbow injury.
The Red Sox had an off-day Thursday, giving Porcello the opportunity to pitch in Price's spot on regular rest Friday. Fister, who was moved to the bullpen last week, will take the fifth spot in the rotation on Monday or Tuesday.
Left-hander Christopher Johnson, who has made several spot starts for the Red Sox this season, is also dealing with soreness in his elbow so he's out of the mix for now.
After five consecutive quality starts, Price labored in his last start at Anaheim on July 22, giving up seven hits and six runs (five earned) over five innings in a 7-3 loss.
Price told Farrell on Tuesday in Seattle that he was experiencing some discomfort. The Red Sox arranged for an MRI on Thursday which showed the inflammation. Dombrowski said other surgeons were expected to review the MRI.
Due to HIPAA regulations, Dombrowski was unable to provide more specific details of the MRI. Price was unavailable for comment before Friday's game.
"We're hopeful that he puts a ball in his hand in the coming days. That's kind of the general range of time right now," Farrell said. "We're hopeful that [the DL stint] is not a lengthy amount of time."