CHICAGO — After logging four innings and tossing 64 pitches at Triple-A Worcester on Friday night, Brayan Bello might have been ready to make his season debut for the Red Sox in Tampa on Wednesday. That, however, will not be the case.
Bello, who has now pitched three times for the WooSox, will make at least one more rehab start before joining the Red Sox. Reading between the lines, it seems like the club is aiming for him to make his first big league start around the time Boston hosts the Mariners for a three-game series at Fenway Park from April 22-24.
“He was OK. He was good,” Cora said of Bello, who allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out five batters Friday. “Now, we’ll see how he recovers today. There’s definitely one more. Definitely.
“We’ll see how it works out as far as the weather and where. We feel pretty good, but this is more about him than us. If you want to be reactive then, OK, he pitches in Tampa. But we’ve got to think about him and take care of him so he can take care of us.”
Bello, who has a 6.52 ERA with the WooSox, will likely take the rotation spot of lefty Sean Newcomb, who struggled in Friday’s loss and has a 4.97 ERA (but 2.51 FIP) in three outings in Boston’s No. 5 spot. It appears Newcomb will get at least one more turn before Bello forces a decision to be made. The Red Sox want Bello to get up to around five innings before being activated from the injured list. His right shoulder strain is fully recovered.
The WooSox start a six-game series in Rochester on Tuesday and the weather is expected to be iffy, as often is the case in April, throughout the week. Double-A Portland is also on the road, a little closer to home in Hartford. The Red Sox are mapping out where three injured pitchers — Liam Hendriks (Sunday), Lucas Giolito (likely Tuesday) and Bello (likely Wednesday) will pitch next.
“The weather is going to be iffy in Worcester this weekend,” Cora said. “Obviously, in Portland, too. They’re working on that.”
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