After two full years of progress toward developing into the starting pitcher the Boston Red Sox know he could be, Brayan Bello has screeched to a halt in 2026. He posted a 3.91 ERA across two full seasons in 2024-25, but he looks like a mere shadow of that player so far this year.
Bello has a 9.12 ERA through 25.2 innings across six starts this season. He's command has been as unsteady as ever — he's collected 17 strikeouts, walked 15 batters and his opponents have a .374 batting average against him. He's made only one start of more than five innings.
The Red Sox are utterly desperate for starting pitching in recent weeks with a full rotation of starters on the injured list or out of commission — Sonny Gray (who is expected to return as soon as May 6), Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are all unavailable, and Ranger Suárez's hamstring locked up on him in his most recent start. Boston has to keep Bello in the rotation, despite his struggles, until at least two pitchers return, after which, its plan for him is unclear.
Interim manager Chad Tracy has said Bello will get the bulk of the Sox's innings against the Detroit Tigers on May 5, but Jovani Morán will serve as an opener. The Red Sox have used Morán only as a reliever so far this season and this will be his first start, in a Brennan Bernardino-type role. Morán has posted a 2.33 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 11 walks over 19.1 innings across 10 appearances.
Brayan Bello still has to perform for Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy's opener plan to be a success
First innings have been rough for Bello so far (as have many others). He's logged a 9.00 ERA and given up three home runs in the first inning of his six starts. Tracy thinks a push back in the lineup could give Bello an advantage that he hasn't had before.
“Most times when people use openers, sometimes there’s a left-handed pocket that maybe you can switch the lineup up and also, it pushes him in the bottom part of the order, so when it flips back a third time, hopefully you can push him through and get him through five innings," Tracy said (via Chris Cotillo of MassLive).
This is an optimistic plan for Bello from Tracy, but it may not work out as he hopes. While the first inning has often been a rough go for the righty, he tends to fully implode later in his starts. Bello has a shocking 18.69 ERA over six appearances in the fourth inning. He's only made it to the fifth frame twice this year.
Tracy's plan to use Bello with an opener might not work, but the Red Sox don't have much of a choice when their rotation is as decimated as it is. When Gray and Crochet return from the IL, it makes sense to send Bello to the bullpen (or even down to Triple-A, since he still has some options available) and keep the surging Payton Tolle in the rotation in his place unless he drastically improves this week.
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