Red Sox take a risky gamble by bringing Brayan Bello back during Boston's hottest stretch of the season
Red Sox take a risky gamble by bringing Brayan Bello back during Boston’s hottest stretch of the season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Boston Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball, and have been for the past couple weeks. They are 13-2 in their last 15 games, and have swept three of their last four series, and are looking to sweep the fourth today against the New York Mets.
However, it seems like they might be messing with a good thing by introducing a new, chaotic variable: pitcher Brayan Bello. It’s been reported that today’s starting pitcher, Payton Tolle, will be on a pitch count, and Bello will come in as a long reliever.
Bello’s 2026 has been awful
© Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Overall, this has been a terrible season for Bello. In the MLB, Bello was 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA, 44 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.672 over 61 innings pitched. He then was demoted to the minors, where he didn’t fare much better.
In four starts at AAA, he’s posted a 4.34 ERA, 22 Ks, with a WHIP of 1.236. Those numbers don’t really inspire confidence, so bringing him back up is a head-scratcher, especially with how good the Sox have been doing lately.
Even with an injured starting rotation, Boston opted to have a bullpen game yesterday rather than call up Bello to be a spot starter.
There is one hope for Bello as a MLB pitcher
© Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Although, there’s maybe one reason for him being called up again: he’s not going to be a starter. As a starter, Bello is awful. Though, when he came in after an opener, he was elite.
When he wasn’t the pitcher to start the game, Bello had a 0.74 ERA. It was the first inning that would give him trouble, as that’s where he would give up a vast majority of his runs.
Bello’s future could be decided today
© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
If Bello can perform as his usual self after getting an opener, there might be a spot for him on the big league roster as a long reliever. Boston needs one, and Bello can be that guy, as long as he can accept not being a starter, something he struggled with when he was demoted.
It seems like he has accepted it though, so hopefully he can pull through. If he can’t, and somehow breaks Boston’s winning streak, he’ll most likely be sent down once again, and will probably not put on a Boston jersey for a while, if ever.
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