David Price Finding His Edge Again

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Before David Price took the mound Thursday, he said he was looking to rediscover his missing edge. "I just haven't had that edge, haven't had that mentality when I was out there," said Price. "I have to get back to the same way I was last year, the same way that got me to this point..."

For one night, at least, the 23-year-old lefty found what he was looking for.

There's no question Price has the talent. There's also no question that pitching is a cerebral game. Mastering the mental side is a very big part of success "out there."

Rays manager Joe Maddon tried something interesting this time around. Maddon asked pitching coach Jim Hickey to not go over the data reports on opposing batters with Price. "We have so much information, and it's good. It's good to utilize it and we do utilize it," said Maddon. "But there are certain moments when you really want to walk away from it and just permit your instincts" to take over.

Price gave up one run over six innings, struck out seven, and most importantly, only walked one. It was just the second time this season that Price issued less than two free passes. Oh, and he outdueled Roy Halladay in the process.

If you're playing from behind this season, it's time to acquire the disappointments. Even if Price doesn't show the kind of consistency we all want, he remains a strong buy-low, in hopes that the edge has returned.

The Afflicted: Our cram session fears were warranted. Torii Hunter is likely headed to the DL with a strained adductor muscle, but thankfully there's no tear. If waivers seem shallow and you need some speed, take a shot with Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner. He'll help you fill three categories in Hunter's absence -- steals, runs and average. He also has six RBI over his last three games. Yunel Escobar left Thursday's game with a lower back strain. He's currently day-to-day. Corey Hart should be back in the lineup against the Dodgers after missing two games with a bruised foot.

Bits From the Box Scores:
• OK, what's in Jayson Werth's Wheaties? With homers in four straight games, he's up to 20 for the season. He's on pace for 40 HR, 107 RBI and 24 steals. Talk about exceeding draft value.

• Dustin Pedroia remembered how to hit for power. He's homered twice over his last four games after not hitting one out since May 31. He can still manage a 15-HR season.

• "Tommy Hanson has to get his walk rate under control. Two walks killed him in the 4th inning." -- via Knox Bardeen's Twitter (which you should track, there's a reason he eclipsed 1,000 followers). Hanson gave up four runs in five innings.

• Paul Konerko keeps chugging along on his RBI tear. He's got 11 total over seven games in July with a .500 batting average. I find it bizarre he's actually unowned in a decent portion of leagues.

• How is David Huff in a major-league rotation? A 6.71 ERA over 11 starts now. Yikes, Tribe.

• Manny Parra returned to the Brewers' rotation with very encouraging results: seven innings of shutout ball, seven strikeouts and one walk. Easily his best start of his season in the bigs. Parra had a 2.92 ERA down at Nashville before the call-up, though command was still an issue. Take a flier but tread carefully.

• I'm not going to try to explain how Joel Pineiro has seven wins and a 3.20 ERA. Aaron Gleeman does a fine job of breaking it down in Rotoworld's Daily Dose. He's a groundout machine. Pineiro, not Gleeman.

• Ryan Ludwick is heating up. He blasted his second three-run home run in his last three games. Remember, he hit 37 bombs last year and was banged up for a good portion of this season. Many more homers could be on the way.

• Jimmy Rollins is batting .400 over his last nine games. Second-half surge. It's coming.

Lineup Lock Time: Our first game Friday is the Cardinals and Cubs at 2:20 PM ET. Ace Chris Carpenter takes the mound for St. Louis.

Down on the Farm: Kila Ka'aihue (yes, I had to copy and paste that) is up to 13 homers and 36 RBI for Triple-A Omaha. The Royals' first base prospect is worth keeping a close eye on in AL-only leagues; he hit 38 homers between three stops last season. Mike Jacobs had a brutal .189 in June and he's not getting any better as the All-Star break approaches. Also worth watching, even in mixed leagues, is Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (Triple-A Norfolk). He's lowered his ERA to 2.50 with seven wins and 88 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings pitched.

Don't Forget About: Ryan Doumit. We talked about the Pirates catcher on the podcast, and now it looks like he may be ready to return this weekend. With Geovany Soto's status very up in the air, Doumit could be your answer.

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