The Boston Red Sox starting pitching issues have been well-documented to start the season. They have had to send so much production from an inning standpoint a year ago to the Injured List early in the season. Some of the names include Kutter Crawford, Lucas Giolito, and Brayan Bello.
On Wednesday, Bello pitched in what was presumably his last rehab outing and threw 4.1 innings, giving up four runs but striking out seven. He was steady in the strike zone, throwing 71% strikes.
Brayan Bello's final rehab start:
4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Threw 51 of 71 pitches for strikes. His next start is expected to be at Fenway Park.a
Boston has an ace in Garrett Crochet, and considering Tanner Houck hasn't had the best start to his season, the Red Sox could use Bello making an impact immediately. Walker Buehler has fared fine early on in his first season with the Red Sox, but was signed to a one-year, $21 million deal and is expected to be productive.
From another Red Sox insider, manager Alex Cora indicated that this was Bello's last rehab start, which would line him up to start either Monday or Tuesday of next week in Fenway Park, potentially against the Chicago White Sox.
Alex Cora said tonight is likely Brayan Bello's last rehab start, which would line him up to make his season debut for the Red Sox early next week
Bello had an up-and-down season in 2024, but pitched in 30 games and 162.1 innings for the Red Sox, and was sent to the IL to start the season, dealing with shoulder soreness. The 25-year-old is entering his fourth season with Boston and is expected to be a big part of the rotation as it gets deeper into the season.
The Red Sox have had to call on starters like Richard Fitts (since been sent to IL), and Sean Newcomb to get starts for the team in Crawford and Bello's absence, but those likely aren't the names Boston can have starting if they want to contend.
