The Boston Red Sox have brought right-hander Brayan Bello back up from Triple-A Worcester, adding a fresh pitcher to their roster on Sunday before their last game prior to the All-Star break.
Bello is expected to potentially pitch behind rookie Payton Tolle in the series finale against the New York Mets, as the Red Sox look to avoid putting too much strain on a bullpen that has already been heavily used. Boston also faces a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday — the first day back from the break — making pitching depth even more critical.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said how Bello is used will depend on how the game plays out Sunday, whether the team needs him to eat multiple innings early or provide relief later in the contest.
“The big thing is you guys know over the last handful of days how short we are bullpen-wise,” Tracy said. “So just want to make sure that we have enough (pitchers) down there and have enough coverage to get through the game.”
Bello was sent down to the minors on June 5 following a rough stretch in which he posted a 2-6 record and a 6.34 ERA across 61 innings in 12 appearances, including eight starts. During his time with Worcester, the 27-year-old turned things around, putting up a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings in four starts.
Over his five-year major league career with Boston, Bello holds a 41-42 record and a 4.32 ERA across 112 appearances, 105 of which were starts.
