The Boston Red Sox have been baseball’s hottest team over the past two weeks, winning 13 of their last 15 games. But that hot streak has come with some rotation casualties – both Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez landed on the injured list during this stretch.
Boston called up Patrick Sandoval to replace Early, and he dominated in his debut. For Suarez’s spot today, the Red Sox promoted their No. 25 prospect Eduardo Rivera, who’s primarily a long reliever.
Here’s what’s interesting about that decision.
The Red Sox have another starter with MLB experience sitting in Triple-A: Brayan Bello. But Bello’s season has been such a disaster that Boston apparently doesn’t trust him with a recall.
From Promise to Problems
Last year, Bello looked like he was figuring things out. He finished 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA, seemingly on track to become a reliable rotation piece for Boston.
This season? Complete opposite.
Bello managed just a 2-6 record with a 6.34 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and a 1.672 WHIP over 61 innings. Those numbers put him among the worst pitchers in the majors, and Boston couldn’t afford to keep running him out there if they wanted to stay competitive.
So they demoted him to Triple-A and replaced him with Jake Bennett, who’s been excellent in his place.
Triple-A Struggles Continue
The change of scenery hasn’t fixed Bello’s issues. In four Triple-A starts, he’s 0-0 with a 4.34 ERA, 22 strikeouts, and a 1.236 WHIP.
Those numbers are better than his big league disaster, but they’re not exactly screaming for a promotion. And with Boston rolling right now, inserting Bello into a rotation that’s working seems like an unnecessary risk.
That’s why they went with Rivera instead – even though he’s not a traditional starter, he won’t disrupt what’s been clicking for this team.
What’s Next for Bello?
Bello’s future in Boston looks pretty murky right now. He’s not getting a rotation spot anytime soon, and unless the bullpen gets decimated by injuries, he’s probably staying in Triple-A for the rest of the year.
If that’s the case, the Red Sox might be smart to explore trade options. Some team out there might be willing to take a flyer on a guy who showed promise as recently as last season, especially if they’re desperate for starting pitching depth.
For now, though, Bello’s watching from Worcester while his former team keeps winning without him. Sometimes that’s just how baseball works – you get your shot, and if you can’t capitalize, the team moves on.
The Red Sox are moving on just fine.
