How Alex Cora Responded To Brayan Bello’s Recent Performance
Bello has a 2.49 ERA in his last four starts
Brayan Bello continued an encouraging stretch in a losing effort Saturday.
While Bello couldn’t replicate last weekend’s gem against the New York Yankees, the 26-year-old worked at least six innings for the fourth straight start after failing to finish the fifth in his previous five outings. Bello allowed three runs (one earned) with one walk and six strikeouts in a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora assessed Bello’s recent form when speaking to reporters after the game.
“Coming out with the fastball, I think that’s the most important thing,” Cora said. “He’s been able to spot it. The cutter is becoming a weapon for him. He threw a few changeups, if I’m not mistaken. They were very good. We got away with a few pitches middle-middle, but I think he’s been solid.”
In his prior start, Bello worked seven scoreless innings in a career-high 114 pitches to shut down the Yankees. Cora said that the long outing affected his decision to pull Bello with 94 pitches on Saturday.
“He looks strong,” Cora added. “If it wasn’t for the last one, I probably would have let him go out for the seventh. But obviously, we were thinking in the long run, not just one game.”
Bello has recently tabled an inconsistent changeup for more fastballs and sweepers. Statcast data determined the right-hander threw his changeup 14 times at San Francisco.
Cora said Boston’s coaching staff has worked with Bello to re-harness the changeup’s mechanics so he can improve the command and turn the offering back into a weapon for whiffs.
“The pitching group has done an amazing job with him in between starts to get it going, and it feels like we’re getting there,” Cora said.
Bello has bounced back from a rough May (4.03 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) to post a 2.49 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in four starts this month. The right-hander’s 14.4 K-BB percentage over that stretch is particularly promising, as he holds a career 11.8 percentage that’s decreased to 7.7 in 2025.
The Red Sox will look for Bello to extend his recent momentum into a division series against the Toronto Blue Jays next week.
