The Red Sox announced that right-hander Brayan Bello has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 21, with right lat tightness. Right-hander Zack Kelly has been recalled in a corresponding move.
The news is unfortunate for both Bello and the Sox. He cemented himself in the club’s rotation plans last year by tossing 157 innings over 28 starts with a 4.24 earned run average. His 19.8% strikeout rate was subpar but he only walked 6.7% of batters and kept 56.2% of balls in play on the ground.
The Sox clearly have faith in Bello’s future and put their money on it by signing him to a $55MM extension back in March. Since Bello had generally had stronger strikeout numbers in the minors, the club likely hoped that there was still room for him to grow as a pitcher. He showed a bit of progress here in the early going of 2024, striking out 23.6% of batters faced through his first five starts.
Unfortunately, that progress will now be put on hold, as Bello is the latest in a line of Boston players to get hurt. Lucas Giolito required season-ending surgery back in the offseason and pitchers like Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock, Bryan Mata and Chris Murphy have also landed on the injured list.
Now that Bello is joining that group, the Boston rotation is down to Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski and they will have to figure out who is going to step up. Veteran Chase Anderson is with the club and has been throwing multi-inning stints out of the bullpen, so he would be one option. Naoyuki Uwasawa is on the 40-man roster and currently on optional assignment. The Sox recently acquired Vladimir Gutierrez, though he just made a one-inning bullpen appearance at Triple-A on Sunday, so perhaps they view him more as a reliever.
The club’s starters have a collective 1.80 ERA so far this year, which leads the majors. That’s a big reason why they’ve managed to keep pace in the highly competitive American League East. But the mounting injuries will obviously make it challenging to maintain that kind of performance going forward. The club hasn’t yet provided any estimates for how long they expect Bello to be out of action but more information should be forthcoming either today or in the days to come.
And so it continues ….
Who needs starting pitching depth anyway? Not the Boston Red Sox, who you can always see as part of the Great Fenway Experience!
They’re gonna have to start giving the first 10,000 fans a bowl of chowdah every game.
YBC – You know how they are doing their giveaways now, right? They are giving away giveaways ONLY to fans who pay an additional amount for their tickets …. typically $10 more.
So those bowls of chowdah will cost fans an extra $1 per tablespoon! LOL!!!
Wait, wut, is that true? Giveaways only to those paying an additional fee?
Fever,
Do all teams do this??
Rob – Not kidding, we witnessed it in person attending ST games when we saw some fans had the Jimmy Buffet giveaway and many others didn’t receive it. That’s when we were told, you had to pay an extra $10 to get a “special ticket” that entitles you to the not-free giveaway.
So if you’re going to Fenway for one of their “theme nights” and are expecting to get the promo item for free …. double check first.
The team says they donate a portion of the profits to charity, but they don’t say how much. Even if they are not making a dime on it, they are still drawing fans without actually footing the cost of the promo items.
And here’s the link …. read the fine print. Pretty disgusting if you ask Red Sox Nation ….
mlb.com/redsox/tickets/promotions
“Giveaway items included with Theme and Cultural & Identity events are only available to fans who purchase their ticket via the respective special offer.”
Double-dipping sponsors and fans. Lol. They don’t do this at YS. I usually give away whatever they’re offering to a kid if I make the cutoff. I wouldn’t be surprised that they start doing it so all fans have the option to buy.
lamars – I don’t know, that would be a good question for others here. As I continue to attend more road games, if I notice similar I will mention it here.
Can probably find out by checking other team’s websites.
BTW – I’m not saying they are doing it with all their giveaways, for instance I think they gave away cheap magnetic calendars during the home opener …. but Sullivan Tire may have footed the entire bill. I wouldn’t be surprised considering the cheapness of the corporate-owned Red Sox.
YBC – The way MLB teams copy each other so much, I wouldn’t be surprised if other teams try it.
But for teams like the Rays and Marlins that are struggling to sell tickets, I don’t see it making sense.
If I’m living in Miami or Tampa and I have no desire to pay $30 for a ticket to a game, I’m not gonna pay $40 to get a promo item and ticket when the promo item is probably worth about $3 and can be bought in the team store or whatnot.
I still have a “Nobody Beats the Wiz” NYY cap from childhood – a defunct local electronics chainstore. I guess they can do it if it’s a limited item and they don’t keep recycling it during games. But that also cannibalizes team store merch sales so I dunno.
I used to love bat day, especially when it was a 28 ounce little league bat. Then they changed to mini bats until they realized they were weapons. Not sure if they still have bat day at Yankee Stadium but that was the best. I got mine in the minors at AA.
@YBC, they don’t do it…yet! : -) That’s my concern. One team starts it, then it becomes normalized across other teams.
Dewey – I’m a bobblehead guy all the way.
When my bobbleheads are rocking, don’t come a-knocking. LOL!
Rob – Like the online-only ticket sales and cashless venues … I hate both.
@Fever…TMI !!! LOL.
YBC – Thank you but I’m not THAT young! LOL!! I shopped at that Wiz store in Mass, they were in 5 states. It was a major storyline in one of the Seinfeld episodes.
Yeah I agree if it’s an item limited to let’s say 20K it could have some value eventually, hard to say.
Not Fitts. He went 4 today (11am start) and really didn’t look good. Gambrell, the only other legit guy they have as a starter at AAA is going as type this in game 2.
Uwasawa perhaps? Have to clear a 40 man spot. Hamilton/Rodriquez. not like they don’t have guys could easily remove.
I’d say play that song ” And another one bites the dust” , But at this point it would just be redundant.
Uwasawa is on the 40 man.
Fitts was pitching well until today’s game,so one off start won’t keep him down. What will keep him down, at least for several more days, is he pitched today and 40-man roster issues. I’m guessing he needs to be added.
Fever, the hits may keep rolling, and I don’t mean the stones even though it may feel like getting hit by one.
But, I’ll take a lat strain anybday of the week for one of our young arms over an elbow issue!
*knock on wood*
GASox – Very true, this one is not a big concern IMO.
…and the “bullpen games” start to add up.
Very rare these days for a club to make it through a season without at least 7 guys getting double digit starts.
It’s because they rushed him this Spring, right?
Fever :come on man . Listen to guys on here that say it’s a rebuild . I guess you don’t need depth in a rebuild !!! Haha
Bdog – I have come to loathe the term “rebuild” because it’s used way too often around here.
So every time the Sox hire a new HOBO, it’s a 4-year rebuild until the HOBO gets replaced after Year 4, at which time the clock resets and it’s another 4-year rebuild.
I guess some people really, really like carrots to keep chasing ’em like a dog keeps chasing it’s tail.
Wow it doesn’t end for this team
Fraham – The Dodgers already used 21 pitchers this season, what the Red Sox are going through is not unusual. With the exception of Pivetta, pretty much every injured Sox pitcher has a history of injury.
Which is why a durable pitcher or two like Montgomery would have been a huge asset to the Red Sox, if they had signed him before ST.
Good thing though, at least it’s not an elbow.
Bello’s lat tightness may not be anything serious. They may want to give him a break as they are likely not contending this year. No need to overwork your future assets when the year is likely down the drain.
Team is in shambles before May…
Of course. That way the turn around and triumph through struggles can be compelling on Netflix.
Get ready for a parade of “who’s this guy?” on the mound…
Bailey seems like a good pitching coach but this is asking a lot.
But still above .500 in a division where everyone is…..
My bad….Tampa is a game under
Life – The Red Sox are 1-7 against teams that are more than 2 games over .500
You gotta be kidding..
Remember watching a movie back in HS…. “They shoot horses don’t they??”
Olm – You’re thinking of Old Yeller …. the only movie that has ever made me cry, although I was about 4 years old at the time. LOL!!!
Come on man. Brian’s song made you cry too. I know you’re human.
Elm – Well I’m part cyborg, but I’ve never seen Brian’s Song or at least don’t have it as a childhood memory.
Logan’s Run I remember, and my brother took me to see Carrie. Neither were tearjerkers though.
I’M BRAYAN BELLO!
Shut up bird!
That documentary they’re shooting is definitely gonna be interesting to watch back, isn’t it
crocus – Funny thing is, Red Sox started pursuing this docuseries back in 2021 but they weren’t allowed to pick the season.
I’m betting they probably regret it now. They volunteered only for the exposure, they do not receive any compensation for it.
Mayday. Mayday. Mayday.
Not yet. Time for 3-4 more injuries before then.
It seems as if every pitcher in the league will be on the dl at some point. Been a brutal start to the season for most teams pitching staffs. I think Bartolo retired too soon
Pleeeease not Vladimir dude pitches batting practice
This is fine.
Every start throwing in the back yard. You might be pitching for an MLB team by July.
That 1.80 team ERA is unsustainable, even when everyone is healthy. This team has regression written all over it, unless they can compensate in other areas.
NFL draft tomorrow night. Lifelong Red Sox about ready to “turn the page” on this season. Not the Patriots are much better but it’s like the other 3 Boston pro teams are actually trying, so…
This is honestly comical at this point. Now, do we trot Cooper Criswell out there to get shelled? Or do we sign a more recognized name like Bumgarner or Syndergaard…to also trot out there and get shelled
At this point I’d rather watch Scott Cooper pitch
How dare you mention that name, all star with the sox, came to the cards and hit like 187 over two years and I was so happy when he signed. Total egg on my face. Scott friggin cooper
Cooper Criswell isn’t a great pitcher, but there is reason to believe he is at least competent. Unfortunately he is the end of our depth chart until Fitts is ready. After Criswell we get “bullpen games”.
I think the next guy they bring up is Uwasawa he looked good in his last AAA start similar kind of pitcher as Criswell. You’re going to get the kitchen sink from him.
Good suggestion, I was just thinking about that option. Agree that he is a good bet to give them 4-5 respectable innings each time out.
There’s still Trevor Bauer…..John Henry needs to get off his morality horse and sign him
How quickly we forget that his YouTube and social media posts prior to “the scandal” were all about that spider tack.
Not all. There was the slam Kenny Rosenthal campaign. There was the not being able to wear his personal merch logo at a mlb press conference tantrum. Numerous personal attacks on Manfred and his professional ability. In trying to understand, his fans definitely bed to focus less on false sexual accusations, and more on who he was before that happened.
Bed = need
Honestly I don’t care, I remember the old Charles Barkley commercials in the 1990s that said we are not role models. I care about two things, can he pitch? Did he actually break the law and you can prove it? That’s it. He doesn’t have to be a nice guy, he can have his own brand, nothing he’s done warrants being blackballed. I mean dude is currently raking in Mexico, is a former cy-young winner and willing to play for cheap. We are the nation of 2nd chances. If the Browns can use DeShaun Watson, an MLB team certainly can use Bauer.
his fans definitely bed to focus less on false sexual accusations, and more on who he was before that happened.
========================
I am completely okay with a GM/owner deciding he is way too much high maintenance to be worth signing. That probably doesn’t happen often enough.
But I absolutely hate the fact that some people cannot admit that they fell for a con job and want his life ruined rather than admit that they were wrong.
The word bed looks like a bed.
Notice I said I don’t care, he won. Ultimately you can be the world’s biggest locker room villain like a Barry Bonds and if you produce, so what. Ozuna in Atlanta had domestic violence charges and is raking. He has a job because he’s good at what he does, so is Bauer. They are grown men not choir boys.
Mention Bauer = muted
It’s troll commentary at this point.
And you felt the need to broadcast this to the entire board… why?
And the beat goes on. The beat goes on…
“Now that Bello is joining that group, the Boston rotation is down to Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Cooper Criswell and Josh Winckowski…” No problem. They still have the janitor, the hot dog vendor, and the fan from Sect. 29 that can pitch. Oh—and I hear Wally is available too.
Winckowski isn’t really a starter, and Criswell is good for just 3-4 innings.
Wondering if Fitts is ready for a peek at the majors?
Winckowski was a starter his entire college and minor league career. He also started 14 games for Boston in 2022.
Yes, the year he pitched as a starter he had a 5.89 ERA. He has matured since then, but part of that seemed to be the boost in velo that came with the move to the pen. I am doubtful that he can succeed in a starting role in the majors.
Sure, he would be fine as a starter in the minors, but why would we want him starting there?
I called he would go out on injury when he was having issues with his shoulder earlier this year, and just before he signed that huge contract. I was screamed at a bunch of the folks on here for saying he would be hurt and out by the end of April. S0……..SEE I WAS RIGHT !!!!
Yeah, I mean you’d be right if you said pretty much every guy on this team Nostradamus.
Uwasawa and hope for a couple of decent games while other teams are trying to put together a book on him.
Time for more knuckleballers
Drake Maye or JJ McCarthy? It’s the only question that matters at this point
McCarrthy to the Astros naturally
McCarthy is trash.
Maye. But imho, the Pats are better off trading down and picking Nix or Penix,
Not so Bello.
Maybe the Fenway sports Management group could get tiger woods to pitch. I mean the Fenway management crew just cut him a check today for $100 million….
I can’t believe stupid Breslow didn’t sign an entire alternate team.
I think it’s time for a traveling instructor to teach every BoSox affiliated player a knuckleball and call up whoever is most successful to throw complete games due to the lack of pitching.
Mac – good idea. Let’s bet Dalbec going with first up.
The Mariners have a plethora of healthy starters if you want to make a trade. We could have used Casas but I guess that’s not happening. Maybe Duran & Abreu for somebody.
Criswell, 5 solid. Joely, 2 solid, and Dalbec got a HIT.
Is this an alternate universe?
You’ve discovered it’s an alternative universe humanoid, so you must report to the workstation at the Mars 149.
hayzee – As the announcers were alluding, when your team is down 6 runs in the 6th and the temperature is in the 30’s with an even colder wind chill, you tend to just want the game to be over. So I wouldn’t put too much stock in Joely’s performance.
The important thing is Abreu is absolutely on fire, Devers looked great at the plate and running the bases, and Wong is continuing his torrid hitting.
Let’s hope they can win the series tomorrow, that would be HUGE!
My question is what is the plan with Yoshida? He never seems to be in the lineup. I would think trade him . One would think play him and hopefully he gets hot . Showcase him for the best value,
B dog – The NESN announcers were ripping Cora a new one about that exact same subject. They pointed out he has a .943 OPS since April 12th and his last start Saturday in Pittsburgh he was sensational. They also pointed out it was exactly a year ago in Milwaukee when he caught fire for a 3-month period.
Cora’s explanation? He was given 3 DH’s and he can’t DH all of them at the same time. Of course it’s 100% total crap because even with Devers DH’ng tonight due to his knee Cora could STILL have given either Duran or O’Neill a day off since they have been struggling and let Yoshida play LF. And what about yesterday’s game and Sunday’s game? Devers didn’t DH, it should have been Yoshida.
Cora is just awful when it comes to pitcher usage and lineups, can’t wait until he’s no longer managing the Sox. Maybe the ChiSox will hire him, that would be awesome.
Duran could definitely use a day off. He has played all 25 games and is 0-9 in the past 2 games. Ceddanne has also played all 25. No need for that with O’Neil back and Yoshi on the bench. Yoshi was asked about his situation and he took a long few seconds before answering. He didn’t want to give an angry answer I think. In the end he just said that every is decided by the club, he just does what he is told. I expect him to request a trade before year end if he isn’t played.
DBH – I totally agree. Either play the guy regularly and see what he can do over the entire year, or play him regularly to establish enough value for a trade.
This is not uncommon among any employer/employee relationship, Yoshida was Bloom’s guy therefore he’s not valued as much by Cora or the front office now that Bloom is gone. But certainly Yoshida didn’t come to MLB to ride the bench this much.
And the current Sox regime apparently is not sensitive enough to understand how important respect is to Japanese players. Yoshida must feel totally disrespected right now for him to lose his starting job so quickly, especially with his recent strong performance. If I were him I’d be pissed too.
I personally thought he was a bad pick up for them when they acquired him. He would be a good fit for other clubs. They gave him a heavy contract and now he’s a role player. Trade him . The ownership is all about saving money now, cut his salary loose . Food for thought if you took Yoshida’s contract , Story’s contract and put that to Bogarts . I would say that would have been a better investment