Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher David Price Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

David Price replaces Joe Kelly on Dodgers' postseason roster

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/22/21

To fill the void left by the injured Joe Kelly , the Los Angeles Dodgers are going with a guy who has pitched nearly 100 postseason innings across 23 appearances.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Friday afternoon that manager Dave Roberts was electing to go with the experienced arm of David Price as Kelly's replacement on the NLCS roster. The Dodgers trail the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in their best-of-seven series, with Game 6 scheduled for 5:08 p.m. ET on Saturday.

David Price officially replaces Joe Kelly on the #Dodgers playoff roster
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 22, 2021

Kelly, who's pitched in 40 playoff games himself, suffered a bicep strain in the first inning of L.A.'s 11-2 blowout win over Atlanta on Thursday.

Price went 5-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 73 2/3 innings for the Dodgers during the 2021 regular season, splitting time between the bullpen and starting rotation. The former Cy Young Award winner opted out of 2020 pandemic-altered MLB season after he and star outfielder Mookie Betts were traded to L.A. from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020.

From his early years with the Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers, to his brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays, four seasons with the Red Sox, and now his 13th MLB season, Price has been among the best lefties in the game, but he has had an up-and-down postseason career. The 2018 World Series champion has gone 5-9 with a 4.62 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, while striking out 91 batters and walking 28 across 99 1/3 innings in 23 games, including 14 starts.

Price's last experience in the playoffs was three years ago, as he helped the Red Sox capture their fourth World Series title of the millennium by going 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 13 2/3 innings pitched during the five-game series win over the Dodgers.

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