FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox lefthander David Price, a crucial member of a rotation that could be the best in baseball, will be in Indianapolis Friday to have a worrisome elbow injury examined by two specialists.
Price threw 38 pitches in a two-inning simulated game on Tuesday and felt fine. But he had swelling and pain the next day and was taken for an MRI.
Sox manager John Farrell said the test was “kind of inconclusive.’’
Now Price will meet with prominent orthopedic surgeons James Andrews and Neal ElAttrache at the NFL Combine.
Price left JetBlue Park Thursday without speaking to reporters and later traveled to Indiana.
“There was obviously some swelling in the elbow area,’’ said Farrell. “There’s some fluid that was detected in the MRI. Felt like it was best to be seen by Andrews and ElAttrache at the same time before any definitive diagnosis is made.’’
Price was scratched from his start Sunday.
The initial fear is that Price tore a ligament in his elbow and will need season-ending surgery. But friends described Price as being optimistic that the injury is minor and that the Red Sox are acting with an abundance of caution. Price even joked that he wanted to run the 40-yard dash at the combine while he was there.
“He was in much better spirits [Thursday] just based on the way he’s feeling, the way he’s doing everyday activities,’’ said Farrell. “When he came in [Wednesday] morning, there was a little bit more concern on his part just with the soreness that set in overnight.
“But as [Wednesday] played out, the treatment he received, he felt better by the time he left the ballpark.’’
On Thursday, Price went through more treatment and showed improvements in mobility, grip strength, and range of motion.
“Positive signs in the 24-48 hours following the outing,’’ Farrell said.
The Red Sox said similar things about catcher Christian Vazquez in 2015 and righthander Carson Smith last season, and both needed Tommy John surgery. That the team so quickly acted to get Price in with specialists suggests there is serious concern about his elbow.
Price, according to Farrell, has experienced elbow soreness in previous spring trainings.
“But this one’s got a little bit more intensity to it,’’ the manager said.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski referred to the injury as a “strain’’ but offered few other details.
“You’re concerned any time your pitchers have a sore elbow,’’ said Dombrowski. “To what extent at this point, we’ll have to wait until the doctors see him. You never like to see a guy step down no matter what.’’
Dombrowski said Price felt something after throwing a slider Tuesday.
“That was really nothing different than he feels often when he throws,’’ said Dombrowski. “It was not like one pitch or something made it happen.’’
Price was 17-9 with a 3.99 earned run average in 35 starts last season and led the American League with 230 innings. The 31-year-old has been one of the most durable pitchers in baseball, making an average of 32 starts the last seven seasons.
Price was on the disabled list for the only time in his career in 2013 with a triceps strain. He has been healthy since.
“Yes, we are concerned. As we would be with any player,’’ Farrell said. “We’ve got a little bit of history here with David and what his progression through spring training has been.
“He’s battled this, seemingly, in every spring training. We will acknowledge that this one’s got a little bit more intensity to it. That’s why we’re taking every step.’’
Farrell said there were no indications of any issues with Price until Tuesday.
“His bullpens all spring training have been powerful,’’ said the manager. “They’ve been crisp. His delivery has been clean.’’
Price has six years and $187 million remaining on the contract he signed with the Sox in December 2015. It remains the most lucrative deal ever for a pitcher.
The Red Sox started camp with six reliable starters, led by Price, 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, and newcomer Chris Sale.
Drew Pomeranz, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Steven Wright are competing for two spots in the rotation.
If Price’s injury proves serious, all three could land on the Opening Day roster.
The starting depth beyond that is thin. The Sox purchased 28-year-old righthander Hector Velazquez from a Mexican League team last month. A trio of unproven lefthanders — Roenis Elias, Brian Johnson, and Henry Owens — are slated for the Triple A rotation along with veteran Kyle Kendrick, who was signed to a minor league contract.
Doug Fister and Edwin Jackson remain available on the free agent market. As president and general manager of the Detroit Tigers, Dombrowski traded for Fister in 2011.
The Sox also could dip further into their prospect depth to trade for a starting pitcher if that becomes necessary.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
