Brayan Bello keeps making the Red Sox think twice.
Boston didn’t get the franchise-record win it was chasing last night, but it did come away with two clear takeaways: the club looks like a real playoff team when it’s rolling, and Bello has found a groove in his new relief role.
The right-hander was outstanding after being pressed into action in a bullpen game. With Ranger Suarez under the weather, the Red Sox turned to Eduardo Rivera to open the game, and that plan unraveled quickly. Rivera allowed four runs before getting out of the first inning, forcing Boston to go deeper into the bullpen earlier than expected.
That’s where Bello stepped in and steadied everything. He covered five and a third innings, struck out five, and didn’t allow a run. Since coming back up, he has given up just one run, punched out 10 batters, and walked only one in nearly 10 innings.
What makes the stretch even more interesting is the way Bello has handled this assignment. In relief, he has essentially been acting like a starter behind an opener, averaging six innings per outing. And the results have been excellent: his 0.77 ERA in those appearances is the second-lowest among qualified relievers, trailing only Atlanta Braves set-up man Robert Suarez’s 0.56.
So while Bello isn’t starting games in the traditional sense, he’s doing a lot of starter’s work once the game gets going. He’s giving Boston length, limiting damage, and making the middle innings look easy.
The bigger question is what comes next. Bello’s place on the roster is not settled, especially with the Red Sox getting healthier.
Suarez is first back, and Connelly Early is also on the way. That means Boston will soon have a decision to make, even with Bello continuing to pitch his way into the conversation.
For now, though, he’s giving the Red Sox exactly what they need.
In Other News...
Red Sox Top Prospect Just Crossed A Line And Paid For It
Justin Gonzales has become one of the more closely watched names in the Red Sox system, and the High-A Greenville Drive outfielder has the kind of size and power that tends to draw attention fast. Ranked as Bostons No. 3 prospect, he has been building a reputation as a player with loud tools and the sort of ceiling that makes every trip to the plate feel worth tracking.
The latest buzz, though, came from a moment that had little to do with prospect polish and everything to do with emotions running hot after a home run. The confrontation with Cal Stark turned a routine minor-league at-bat into a benches-clearing scene and quickly pushed Gonzales into the kind of spotlight teams usually try to avoid, leaving the Red Sox to manage both the talent and the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Have A Clear Infield Trade Fit They Can't Ignore
With roughly two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Red Sox are being cast as buyers rather than sellers, and the infield is one area that still looks like it could use a jolt. Boston has been linked to help on the dirt, and analyst Jim Bowden recently pointed to a contact-oriented infielder as the kind of addition that could fit both the lineup and the defense.
The appeal is easy to see from the Red Sox side. Their offense has spent too much time in the bottom third of the league in on-base production, so a bat that puts the ball in play has obvious value, and Bowden also noted the players improved work defensively after once being viewed as a well-below-average second baseman. For a club trying to stay aggressive at the deadline, that kind of profile is the sort of fit that can be hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Linked To Big Giants Veteran As Deadline Pressure Builds
The Red Sox are still hovering just above .500, but with the American League playoff race tight and the trade deadline drawing closer, Boston is being mentioned in a familiar kind of rumor mill. Reports have tied the club to a few notable names, including Angels shortstop Zach Neto and several Giants veterans, a sign the front office is at least exploring ways to add impact without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Matt Chapman is one of the more interesting names in that mix, but he also comes with the kind of price tag and current production that can make a fit complicated. Boston already has Caleb Durbin handling third base, so the appeal would have to come from elsewhere, and the other Giants names floating around, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers, may line up more cleanly with what the Red Sox need as they try to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]