The Red Sox have been rolling for weeks, but their latest pitching decisions send a pretty blunt message about where Brayan Bello stands right now.
Boston has won 13 of its last 15 games, even while losing Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez to the IL. The club responded by bringing up Patrick Sandoval to fill Early’s spot, and he was excellent in his debut. For Suarez’s start today, the Red Sox turned to their No. 25 prospect, Eduardo Rivera, a long reliever.
That choice stands out because Bello is still sitting in Triple-A with MLB experience. Instead of recalling him, Boston has kept him down, and his rough season is almost certainly the reason.
Bello’s year with the Red Sox was a mess. After going 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA last season, he looked like he was on track to become a dependable starter.
This year, though, he went 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA, 44 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.672 over 61 innings pitched. Boston moved on quickly, sending him to Triple-A and replacing him with Jake Bennett, who has been dominant in that role.
The problem for Bello is that Triple-A hasn’t offered much of a reset. In four starts, he has not recorded a win or a loss, and he has a 4.34 ERA with 22 Ks and a WHIP of 1.236. Those numbers are better, but not enough to force his way back into the big league picture.
And with the Red Sox playing so well, there doesn’t seem to be much appetite for shaking up the staff. Bello’s path back to the rotation looks blocked for now, and unless Boston gets hit hard by bullpen injuries, he may spend the rest of the year in Triple-A.
If that happens, a trade could make sense. Another team might be willing to take a shot on him, especially if it needs starting pitching.
In Other News...
Red Sox Face Rare Roster Squeeze In Crucial Sweep Chance
The Red Sox head into their game against the Mets with an unusual roster crunch, carrying only 12 available position players as they try to keep a sweep chance alive. Boston had to make a series of moves to get there, including optioning infielder Brett Harris, while Willson Contreras is unavailable because he is serving a suspension.
The squeeze leaves the club leaning heavily on a thin bench and on rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera, who is set for his first major league start after already making one scoreless relief appearance. Rivera has handled Triple-A well this season, and Boston will be asking him to help steady a game that already comes with some roster stress attached. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Fans Wont Like This Veteran Bullpen Decision
Danny Coulombe gave the Red Sox a useful lift in Saturdays win over the Mets, working the final two innings and keeping the game scoreless while lowering his ERA to 4.50. For a club that has leaned on its bullpen all season, the left-hander has been a steady enough veteran presence to matter, especially with his contract carrying performance bonuses tied to appearances and time on the active roster.
The part that makes this one tricky is the timing. Coulombe is right on the edge of a bonus threshold, and Boston now has a short window to decide whether to keep him in the mix, try to move him, or expose him to waivers. If he clears, his service time gives him a path to choose free agency, which leaves the Red Sox weighing a familiar roster decision against a pitcher who just helped them finish off a game. [Read more 🡒]