Red Sox keep paying for their Brayan Bello decision as rotation struggles continue

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Today, the Boston Red Sox played a rubber match against the Baltimore Orioles, as they tried to get a series win at home, something that has been very rare this season.

However, they made one mistake going into today: Letting Brayan Bello start the game. And now they’ve paid the price.

Red Sox manager says Bello had to start

Recently, the Red Sox have used an opener, a reliever that would pitch the first inning, for Bello’s “starts”. However, today they decided that Bello should start the first inning.

The Sox interim manager Chad Tracy stated that for Boston to succeed, Bello needed to be a true starter.

Although, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In the seven games he’s started without an opener, Bello has a 9.68 ERA, while giving up 10 home runs, 18 walks, and a .370 BAA.

In the four games with an opener, Bello has a 0.74 ERA, while only giving up three walks and a .215 BAA. It seemed like Bello had a solution right there, except the opener was the one getting blown up instead.

Today, nothing changed

Without the opener, Bello got destroyed in the first inning. He gave up six runs before the bottom of the first, and gave up two more in the fifth, all earned.

This has ballooned his ERA without an opener to well over 10, and has lost the Red Sox another game. If this is what Tracy’s success looks like, this season is not going to pan out for Boston at all.

The solution needs to be implemented ASAP

The easiest solution is waiting for Garrett Crochet to return, and give him Bello’s spot in the rotation. Then, the Red Sox could either option him down to AAA, or give him a spot in the bullpen, where he could be successful.

A quicker solution would be preferred, as it seems when Bello is on the mound, it’s almost a guaranteed loss for Boston. If Crochet isn’t back by Bello’s next start, perhaps a spot start for Jake Bennett could be the best solution.

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