FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rather than take a two-hour bus ride to Tampa, Fla., to face a divisional opponent (the Yankees), new Red Sox ace David Price will make his first start of Spring Training on Saturday in a simulated game in Fort Myers.
A Saturday debut would put Price on track to make six starts during camp and pitch Opening Day on April 4 at Cleveland.
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Catcher Christian Vazquez, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, will also participate in that simulated game and perhaps serve as Price's catcher.
Price will throw two innings and roughly 35-40 pitches.
"We can achieve that here," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
David Ortiz will make his Grapefruit League debut in Friday's home game against the Rays.
"He felt like he needed two to three more days to continue to take BP and work in the cage," said Farrell. "He still is going to get his 50 at-bats or so in camp."