The Boston Red Sox are looking to secure a series win in Thursday’s rubber match against the Baltimore Orioles, and Brayan Bello will take the mound, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
Bello has not lived up to expectations this year, and one of the oddities of the season is the difference in his numbers when he starts and when he pitches behind an opener. Bello has a 5.63 ERA in 11 games this season. He has made just seven starts, but has been the bulk pitcher in the other four outings.
His ERA as a starter this year is 9.68. In 30 2/3 innings, he has allowed 33 earned runs and issued 18 walks, and has only struck out 18 hitters. However, as the bulk pitcher, he has a 0.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts and three walks in 25 1/3 innings. He has pitched just 5 1/3 more innings as a starter, but the numbers are night and day.
Something is clearly working with him pitching behind an opener, so why are the Red Sox having him start again? The bullpen is fresh after Ryan Watson gave the Red Sox three innings to close out the game behind starter Payton Tolle on Wednesday.
Perhaps the Red Sox are trying to get Bello back on track. He had a 3.35 ERA in 29 games last season. It was his best season as a big leaguer. Bello pitched in the World Baseball Classic, and his spring training was not normal. Perhaps that has something to do with his woes.
Regardless, he has done much better pitching behind an opener. Hopefully, Thursday changes the narrative for him. The Red Sox believe in him, but another poor start may leave them no choice but to have him pitch behind an opener moving forward.
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