Patrick Sandoval’s recent run has put the Red Sox in a spot they probably didn’t expect to be in this late in the season: wondering whether Brayan Bello should get a crack at the rotation.
Since coming back from the injured list after a recovery that stretched nearly two years following UCL surgery, Sandoval has been serviceable. He owns a 4.58 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP across 55 innings for Boston as the club keeps pushing toward October.
Serviceable, though, is the problem. For a Red Sox team leaning on its top-end starters, “fine” hasn’t been enough.
Sandoval’s last five decisions have all gone in the loss column, with a no-decision mixed in on August 22 against the San Francisco Giants, one of the worst teams in baseball this year. Then on September 8, he gave up 10 hits and four runs to the Los Angeles Angels, another club sitting near the bottom of the league.
That rough stretch has included some outings that weren’t all that ugly on the surface. In three of those five losses, Sandoval has allowed three earned runs or fewer, including a one-run start against the New York Yankees. But Boston’s offense has cooled off a bit after its scorching stretch in July and into August, and even some of Sandoval’s better work hasn’t been enough to cover for that dip.
So the question becomes whether the Red Sox stick with him or make a change before October. Boston does not appear to need Sandoval in the postseason - three of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett could handle the rotation staff, with Bello available as insurance if injury strikes. That makes there an argument for using the final stretch to squeeze out as many wins as possible with a different look.
Bello is the obvious name to watch. The 27-year-old had his own struggles as a starter earlier, but he seemed to find something again after a five-inning, scoreless outing against the Angels on Labor Day. Boston could also keep using him in a bulk role behind an opener, a setup that has worked very well for him for most of the year.
Of course, the Red Sox could also decide Sandoval gives them the best chance to keep the rest of the staff fresh for October. They’re in strong shape already, sitting at a 99.8 percent chance to reach the playoffs as of September 9, according to FanGraphs.
The wider American League picture is crowded, with teams mostly battling each other for position, and Boston does have room to chase better Wild Card positioning. The Red Sox are three games behind the Yankees, but that chase gets complicated quickly with New York playing well and Aaron Judge back from injury.
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Red Sox Prospect From That Grissom Deal Is Suddenly Worth Watching
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Jackson is the name that stands out for Red Sox followers, especially because he came over in the Vaughn Grissom trade and has started to build a case in High-A as a defense-first outfielder who can also drive the ball. For a player taken in the eighth round in 2025, the climb to Portland says plenty about how quickly his stock has risen, and it adds one more interesting layer to a deal Boston has been monitoring since the moment it was made. [Read more 🡒]
Viral Fenway Moment Added To A Frustrating Night For Red Sox Fans
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It was the kind of off-field scene that can take on a life of its own online, especially when it comes during a game the home crowd would rather forget. The Red Sox went on to lose 6-1 to the Angels, a result that not only dimmed the mood at Fenway but also snapped Bostons five-game winning streak. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Have A Bigger Lineup Concern In Angels Finale
Adley Rutschman is out of the Red Sox starting lineup for the second straight game because of a hyperextended right elbow, giving Boston another wrinkle to manage as it tries to bounce back from its previous loss in the series against the Angels. Mickey Gasper will handle catching duties and bat second, while Jake Bennett is set to start on the mound as the Red Sox look to steady themselves in the finale.
Rutschmans absence leaves Boston watching a key spot in the order and behind the plate a little longer than expected, and it comes at a moment when every lineup decision feels magnified. The Red Sox have enough to sort out after dropping the last game, and now they have to do it without one of the names they were counting on most. [Read more 🡒]