​The Sporting News published a take arguing that the Red Sox are taking a risky gamble by bringing Brayan Bello back during Boston’s hottest stretch of the season, and the article suggests adding The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking a link. The team has been the league’s hottest for the past couple of weeks, posting a 13-2 record in their last 15 games and sweeping three of their previous four series, with a real chance to sweep the fourth against the New York Mets today. Yet there’s a perception that a good thing could be disrupted by introducing a new, unpredictable variable in Bello. Today’s starter, Payton Tolle, is expected to be on a pitch count, with Bello stepping in as a long reliever.
Overall, Bello’s season has been rough. In the majors, he went 2-6 with a 6.34 ERA, 44 strikeouts, and a 1.672 WHIP over 61 innings pitched. He was subsequently sent to the minors, where he didn’t fare much better. In four AAA starts, he posted a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts and a 1.236 WHIP. Those numbers aren’t particularly inspiring, making the decision to bring him back up puzzling, especially given how well the Sox have performed lately.
Even with an injured starting rotation, Boston opted for a bullpen game yesterday rather than promoting Bello as a spot starter. The possible rationale for recalling him, despite his poor results as a traditional starter, is that he’s not being groomed as a starter this time. Bello’s strength appears to be as a long reliever after an opener, not as a traditional starter. When he’s not the first pitcher out of the gate, Bello has looked electric, posting a 0.74 ERA in those scenarios. The major challenge has consistently been that first inning, where he tends to give up most of his damage.
If Bello can replicate his typically strong performances once he enters the game following an opener, there could indeed be a place for him on the big‑league roster as a long reliever. Boston is in need of bullpen depth, and Bello could fill that role provided he accepts not being a starter—a transition he struggled with during his demotion, though it seems he may have accepted it now. If he can’t adapt or if he falters and Boston’s winning streak stalls, he’s likely to be sent back down, and his future in a Boston uniform could become uncertain for an extended period, if not perpetual.
The broader context has Red Sox observers weighing the risk: does this call elevate the team’s performance during a storied run, or does it introduce a volatile variable that could derail momentum? The decision hinges on Bello’s ability to embrace a long‑relief role, the bullpen’s capacity to handle additional innings, and Boston’s ongoing evaluation of how to best deploy their young pitcher within this blue‑chip stretch drive. As the season progresses, the question remains whether this experiment can pay dividends, or if it will serve as a cautionary tale about placing faith in a player who has yet to prove sustained success in a starting role.