Price threw 32 pitches the other day in a simulated game (or for EdRo, a simulated inning). Expected to throw another simulated game this week. I don't think he'll be ramped up to start in the playoffs, but that actually may not be a bad things. We know his playoff record as a starter is....really really bad. SSS? I don't know why it is what it is. But as a lefty reliever, he could be a HUGE component to the playoff roster.
Here are Price's career splits as a starter/reliever. Obviously the reliever splits are VERY small sample size, but here they are anyway:
Starter: 1728.0 ip, 3.24 era, 1.15 whip, 8.6 k/9, .237/.289/.369/.658
Reliever: 9.2 ip, 1.86 era, 0.62 whip, 9.3 k/9, .147/.194/.265/.459
As a starter he would normally be throwing about 94 mph, getting it up to 96 on occasion. As a 1 or 2 inning reliever (or even a LOOGY), he could sit at 96 or 97 probably. And he's not the kind of reliever you worry about bringing in and walking guys. Guy has great control (normally).
Rotation:
1. Sale
2. Pomeranz
3. Fister
4. Rodriguez/Porcello (depending on your preference)
Bullpen:
1. Rodriguez/Porcello (whoever you don't have in the rotation)
2. Maddox
3. Reed
4. Scott
5. Smith
6. Kelly
7. Price
8. Kimbrel
A bullpen with a healthy Kimbrel, Price, Kelly, Smith, and Reed is really solid, and the other pieces aren't bad either. If you keep EdRo in the bullpen, it gives you three lefties (Rodriguez, Scott, and Price) so you can play matchups. Smith is almost a ROOGY with that slider.
Anyway, I think the singular addition of Price to the bullpen could be an enormous factor for this team in the playoffs.