10 MLB Starters Who Struggle in the First Inning
David Price, Detroit Tigers
The biggest story of David Price's season has been his change in scenery to the Motor City. Since moving to north, Price has had a lower FIP than he did in Tampa, while his ERA has inflated because of his last shellacking, courtesy of the Yankees.
Price’s third inning ERA was a 2.67 before it blew up to a 5.33 in his last outing, and his first inning average is at a 4.50. Those two frames are his only bad ones with regards to ERA. The lefty is striking out hitters at a good rate in the first, and his WHIP is solid at 1.25, too. The biggest problem for him is that he’s let up four doubles, five home runs and a triple in the first. In addition, four runners have swiped a bag on him and only one has been caught stealing. Price’s adjustments may lie in his approach more than anything else, but they aren’t going to be major adjustments.