Red Sox have found an unexpected bullpen weapon in Brayan Bello during latest win streak
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Red Sox have found an unexpected bullpen weapon in Brayan Bello during latest win streak originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are once again on a roll after the trade deadline, as they have now won seven in a row, with two wins from before the deadline against the Athletics, a sweep against the Dodgers, and now two wins against the Chicago White Sox, as they look for a sweep tonight.
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One of their main reasons for this second streak is their stellar bullpen. Boston has some of the best relievers in the game, and they also have a secret weapon that can keep their high-leverage relievers fresh: Brayan Bello.
Bello was appalling as a starter
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Bello started this year as the fourth string starter in the rotation, as Boston was expecting him to be his 11-9, 3.35 ERA self from the season prior. However, that was definitely not the case.
Instead, Bello had an ERA of above 10 as a starter, as he would get destroyed mostly in the first inning, and the Red Sox wouldn’t be able to come back. After too many disasters, Bello was demoted to AAA, as the starting pitcher prospects Boston had were better than him.
He’s become almost unhittable as a reliever
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However, since he came back up as a long reliever, Bello has been pretty unstoppable. In any game he came in as a long reliever or a “starter” with an opening pitcher, he’s been an ace-level pitcher.
In 42 innings as a reliever, Bello has posted a 0.64 ERA with 30 Ks, which is the lowest ERA by a pitcher with 35+ innings in relief this season.
How this benefits Boston
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This streak by Bello has basically given the Red Sox a secret weapon. When they’ve used their high-leverage relievers like Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Slaten and the others, they need their rest days, or risk having low velocity or an injury.
Enter Bello. With the endurance of a starter, Bello can eat those multiple innings for one game, resting the reliever who can only go one or two innings max. Combine that with his 0.64 ERA, and the Red Sox have a top-notch pitcher to finish out the last three or four innings after their starter goes five to six.
Hopefully, Bello keeps this run of dominance going, so Boston can continue to turn to him when they need to rest their relievers all the way into October.
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