Before the Boston Red Sox could collect the third out in the first inning of their June 4 game against the Baltimore Orioles, they were already down six runs. It's a big deficit, but not surprising, considering who was on the mound and when.
Interim manager Chad Tracy turned to Brayan Bello to start the afternoon matchup, despite the history of results that suggest he should've done anything but that. Bello has looked like a completely different pitcher when starting vs. entering in relief behind an opener this year: as a starter, before June 4, he'd posted a 9.68 ERA, walked 18 batters and gave up 10 home runs, while he has a 0.71 ERA and he's given up just three walks and no home runs behind an opener.
Bello's first inning against the Orioles was exactly the disaster Red Sox fans expected. He gave up two doubles, two singles, hit a batter and issued four walks to hand a division rival the easiest 6-0 lead of their lives on 40 pitches. Bello only got out of the inning after a successful ABS challenge from Carlos Narváez turned a called ball into a strike. His first inning ERA is up to 16.43. Funny enough, Bello got out of the second inning in nine pitches.
The 27-year-old's last outing agains the Orioles was even uglier than his latest. On March 24, he allowed eight runs on 13 hits, including five homers.
The Red Sox need to move Brayan Bello to the bullpen where he can get out of his own head
Why did the Red Sox decide to start Brayan Bello today rather than use an opener?
— WEEI (@WEEI) June 4, 2026
Chad Tracy: “For us to be successful, we need Bello to start.” pic.twitter.com/nmOIaznZOg
Before the game, Tracy justified his decision to start Bello by saying he'd help the team best out of the rotation. Every time an opener has come in before him, they've given up a few runs so Bello is entering the game with runs on the board, anyway. The Red Sox are 1-4 in those games.
But the Red Sox also need a confidence boost and they need to win more at home. Pitching Bello after an opener would've given Boston a better chance to win against a division rival, which is not the time to be making sweeping changes to things that have been working.
At the same time, Bello needs to get out of his head. His inability to start games seems entirely mental since he's so successful — even dominant — otherwise. Tracy and the Red Sox can't give him special treatment with an opener forever, but changing what has been working against a division rival is certainly a choice.
Add us as a preferred source on Google