Price seems to be on the right pace

Part of why the Rays started LHP David Price at Triple-A Durham this year was to have him available for unrestricted duty late in the season.

The club didn't want the rookie making too big of a jump from last year's combined 1401/3 innings pitched, and in the minors his innings could be contained. The plan was to have the 2007 No. 1 draft pick ready for the stretch run and a possible playoff return.

Well, it's the latter half of August, and Price, who will make his 16th start since his call-up May 26 today against the Rangers, says his arm and body feel strong. He has pitched a combined 1111/3 innings, which puts him about where the Rays wanted him.

"We want to get a complete workout on exactly how he projects out for the rest of the year," Manager Joe Maddon said. "It looks like he's pretty much on task, but I want to see it on paper before we make that proclamation."

At the time, Price didn't agree with the club's decision to send him down at the end of spring training - Maddon believed he needed more development - but he can see some wisdom in it now.

"Yeah, I think I missed out on probably 200 pitches on the year," he said. "That's not a lot, but it is. It's basically two more starts. So it makes sense. At the time, I really didn't want to look at it like that."

Price hasn't measured up to the promise of his 2008 season (he was a combined 14-1 with a 2.31 ERA at three minor-league levels and Tampa Bay, and he earned the save in Game 7 of the ALCS), but he has done some of his best pitching recently.

He has gone as deep as seven innings only twice this season, but Price (6-5, 5.03 ERA) has won three of his past four starts. The former Vanderbilt standout is 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA at home but 0-4 with an 8.07 ERA on the road.

He'll need to pitch better than he did in his only previous start against the Rangers. On July 4 in Arlington, he lost a 12-4 decision to Derek Holland in the shortest outing of his career. He lasted 11/3 innings and gave up six runs.

"I feel good about where I'm at physically and mentally," Price said. "I had a rough month-and-a-half, however long it was, but I feel good now."

Fresh battery

Although LHP Scott Kazmir worked exceptionally well with C Gregg Zaun in Tampa Bay's 5-3 victory Friday night, Maddon said he won't begin matching Zaun with certain pitchers.

Rather, the 38-year-old Zaun, acquired from Baltimore on Aug. 7, and Dioner Navarro will continue to platoon, with Zaun starting against most righties and Navarro against lefties.

Kazmir, paired with Zaun for the first time Friday, worked 71/3 innings for his longest outing of the year. He allowed three runs on five hits, and his pitch count through seven innings (85) was the lowest of his career.

Maddon, a former catcher, allowed that Kazmir benefitted from Zaun's pitch-calling and communication.

"I thought he called a great game," Maddon said. "He made some really timely visits to the mound, which I talked to him about after the game. Even during the game, I gave him the high-five a couple of times on different selections he made."

Iwamura update

2B Akinori Iwamura, rehabbing his left knee at Triple-A Durham, got the day off after going 0-for-3 with three walks Friday night. He is scheduled to DH today and play five innings of defense Monday as the Rays work to stretch him out.

"He's coming along well," Maddon said. "He had to slide twice (Friday) - into second and home - and there was no negative impact. They also said he ran well."

Maddon said no decision has been made on how the former starter will be used when he returns. Ben Zobrist has played well at the position, but he also could be used to spell players in the outfield or start in right.