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Price makes first start as Rays take on Orioles

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:41 PM TAMPA BAY (92-62) AT BALTIMORE (67-87), 7:05pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Now that the Tampa Bay Rays have clinched their first playoff berth, they can turn their eyes toward the future.

Top prospect David Price will make his major league start on Monday when the Rays visit the Baltimore Orioles.

"He's champing at the bit," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He wants me to know he's there, he wants me to know he's good (to throw), and I like it. So we will give him the start."

Price (0-0, 3.00 ERA), the first overall pick of in the 2007 draft, has made two appearances out of the bullpen since being called up from Class AAA Durham earlier this month. He has allowed two runs and four hits in six innings, striking out six without issuing a walk.

Tampa Bay (92-62) lost to the Minnesota Twins, 4-1, on Sunday and saw its lead in the American League East trimmed to 1 1/2 game over the Boston Red Sox (91-64). So Price will take the hill with huge October implications on the line.

"It shows they have a lot of trust in me," Price said. "These games are huge games for us.

"I'm excited. My main goal is to get on the postseason roster."

Price, a 6-6, 225-pound lefthander, made a rapid rise through the minor league ranks this season. In the three stints at Class A, AA and AAA, he went 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA, striking out 109 batters in 109 2/3 innings. He gave up just 30 hits and issued 32 walks.

The Orioles will send a rookie of their own to the hill in Brian Bass (3-4, 5.15). The 26-year-old righthander spent most of this season in the Minnesota Twins' bullpen before being dealt to Baltimore a few weeks ago.

Inserted into the rotation on September 11, Bass lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his two starts.