Red Sox's David Price: Ends first half on high note

Price allowed four hits and one walk while striking out 10 over eight scoreless in Boston's 4-0 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Analysis:

Price's best performance of the season comes just five days after Boston's No. 1 starter cast aspersions on himself following a loss to Texas: "There's nothing positive to point out right now." There was plenty of optimism after his start Sunday, including a third consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts. Despite a first half ERA of 4.34 through 20 starts, his FIP (3.42) and xFIP (3.16) point to a pitcher that's run into some bad luck. Price leads the American League in strikeouts and is second in strikeout-to-walk ratio, but has given up an uncharacteristically high number of homers with an uncharacteristically low strand rate. Price owners should be optimistic heading into the second half.