Bello Is Too Good to Start
Stop trying to force Brayan Bello back into the rotation right now. He’s absolutely dominating out of the bullpen, and the numbers don’t lie. According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Bello has posted a 0.85 ERA over more than 50 relief innings this season. That’s insane for a pitcher who struggled in the first inning all year long. If he could just pitch like this in a standard starter role, he’d be a Cy Young contender. While Sonny Gray is projected to finish fifth, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees appears to have secured the award.
Patrick Sandoval is the one who’s actually hurting right now.
He’s been playing with fire since returning from Tommy John surgery, and it finally blew up over the weekend. Reports indicate Sandoval has dealt with a blister on his left foot for most of the year. This injury explains his poor performance, but it doesn’t mean Bello should be the next guy in line. The team has a golden opportunity here to win games by using their best arm in the right spot.
Tracy Knows the Best Move
Chad Tracy sees the big picture and he isn’t going to waste this chance. He made it clear that moving Bello back to the rotation isn’t the right call at this moment. In a statement to the Boston Globe, Tracy said, “Does this mean Brayan can’t start anymore? That’s not the case.” He went on to explain that it’s difficult to ignore how very, very effective Bello has been coming out of the bullpen. Taking down innings in a bulk relief role is exactly what this team needs right now.
The front office has to listen to the data and the manager. Bello is thriving in his current role while the rest of the rotation is shaky. This year, Sonny Gray is justifiably celebrated as one of the top offseason acquisitions by any big league team. But the Red Sox trade deadline acquisitions aren’t faring nearly as well, according to reports. Keeping Bello in relief fixes a hole without adding a new risk.
Story Returns While Bello Holds Down the Lineup
The team has other big questions to answer with the return of key veterans. After struggling early on, Trevor Story has been sidelined since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery. Tim Healey states he now aims to return as early as Friday. Chad Tracy says the goal is for Story to be the everyday shortstop again, even if his performance before the IL was poor. This is a different situation than the pitching staff.
The bullpen is the one place where the Red Sox have found a clear winner. Wyatt Olds made the trip from Worcester to Boston to make his MLB debut, showing the depth is there. But Bello is the one who’s actually changing the game with his arm. The Red Sox shouldn’t close the book on his bullpen role by any means. It just feels like that’s the way to do it right now.
