Tampa Bay Rays Activate David Price Off Disabled List

The reigning American League Cy Young award winner is coming back to his home atop the Tampa Bay Rays rotation. 

UPDATE: Tuesday, July 2, at 11:56 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Price thanked everyone for their support following his start coming off the disabled list:

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UPDATE: Tuesday, July 2, at 10:39 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith reports Price's scoreless line from his first start since returning from the disabled list:

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*Original Text*

David Price hasn't pitched for the Rays since May 15, when he sustained a triceps injury in a start against the Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay put him on the disabled list for the injury on May 16.

In an expected move for the franchise, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting on Twitter that Price has been activated off the DL and will be available for Tuesday night's game against the Houston Astros:

The Rays' Twitter account also made sure to take advantage of an opportunity to get fans exited about the left-handed starter's return to the hill for his 10th start of the 2013 regular season:

Price has been underwhelming so far in his sixth MLB season, just one year removed from finishing with a 20-5 record, a 2.56 ERA and the AL Cy Young award—the first big award of his budding career. 

2013 has been a different story—through nine starts, Price is just one loss away from matching his 2012 total. With a 1-4 record and a 5.24 ERA, he hasn't been the staff ace that he was for the Rays last season. 

He went just 2.1 innings in the start that forced him to the DL, taking the loss while giving up four runs in another frustrating outing that helped reveal that his throwing arm was bothering him. 

Price began a rehab assignment for Class A Charlotte on June 21, and the results of that start allowed Tampa Bay to give him another shot at minor league hitters the following week.

Adam Berry of MLB.com had Price's line from his first rehab start:

His next time out on June 26, he pitched to much better results, as noted by MLB.com's Jim Hawkins. Price completed four scoreless innings of work and threw 72 pitches—54 for strikes—lending to the idea that he's ready to come back to the bigs. 

The Rays have managed to sustain a 44-39 record heading into Tuesday night's game with the Astros, and Price's return could help jumpstart the Tampa Bay lineup for a run at the AL East division leaders (Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles). 

On the other hand, his return could help the franchise make a decision about what strategy to take at the trade deadline. ESPN's Buster Olney noted as much on Twitter:

The Rays are 6-4 in their last 10 games, and that includes a 12-0 win over the Astros on Monday night. Price will have a chance to both keep the Rays' three-game winning streak alive and get back on track individually against the club with the worst winning percentage in MLB.