The Red Sox have been rolling for weeks, but Boston is about to test that momentum with a move that carries real risk. The club is 13-2 in its last 15 games, has swept three of its last four series, and is trying to complete a fourth sweep today against the New York Mets.
Into that hot streak comes Brayan Bello.
Today’s starter, Payton Tolle, is expected to work on a pitch count, with Bello set to follow as a long reliever. That decision stands out because Boston had another option yesterday and passed on it, using a bullpen game instead of bringing Bello up to spot start.
The hesitation makes sense when you look at Bello’s 2026. In the majors, he went 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and a 1.672 WHIP across 61 innings.
After that, he was sent to the minors, where the results still weren’t strong enough to build much confidence. In four starts at AAA, he posted a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts and a 1.236 WHIP.
Still, there is one possible path back for him. Bello has been a mess as a starter, but the numbers changed dramatically when he entered after an opener. In that role, he put up a 0.74 ERA, with the first inning doing most of the damage against him.
That’s why this call-up matters. If Bello can look like that version of himself again, Boston may have found a useful long reliever at a time when the rotation needs help. If not, and if he somehow disrupts the club’s winning run, the Red Sox will likely send him back down and keep him there for the foreseeable future.
In Other News...
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Bigger Connelly Early Concern Than Expected
Connelly Early has been on the Red Soxs 15-day injured list since July 1 because of inflammation in his throwing elbow, and the latest checkup at least offered some relief on one front. The follow-up appointment did not point to a structural issue, which is the kind of news Boston needed after a young pitcher goes down with arm discomfort so early in his big-league run.
Still, the bigger concern now is the waiting. Early is not on any clear path back to throwing because the discomfort has not eased, leaving the Red Sox without a timetable and without much certainty about how quickly they can get him moving again. For a club that has already had to juggle pitching depth, every stalled rehab update carries a little more weight than it should. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Chance To Make A Franchise-Changing Move
The Red Sox reached the midseason break with a 46-48 record and a nine-game winning streak, which has nudged them back into the neighborhood of a playoff spot and made the coming weeks feel a little more consequential than they did a month ago. In that kind of position, Boston has reason to keep an eye on the market, especially for a right-handed bat that could lengthen the lineup and give the club a more dangerous look if it decides to push in.
Francisco Lindor has naturally surfaced in that conversation because of the kind of player he is and the fit he would represent for a team trying to make a real move. The wrinkle is that his situation in New York remains murky enough that it is hard to know how realistic any pursuit might be, and Lindor did not get into the question when asked about his trade veto power this summer. For Boston, the appeal is obvious, but the path to getting there is still very much unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
A 2004 Red Sox Champions Legacy Just Resurfaced In A Big Way
A familiar Red Sox name is back in the baseball conversation after Luke Nixon was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft at No. 150 overall. The NC State infielder built a strong college rsum and gave scouts a steady look at a player who handled second base comfortably, keeping his profile in the infield as he moves into pro ball.
For Boston fans, the draft pick carries an obvious layer of nostalgia because the Nixon name still resonates from the 2004 championship era. Lukes selection does not change anything about that legacy, but it does put another chapter of it into the professional game, with his own path now starting to unfold in a different uniform and a different organization. [Read more 🡒]