Alex Cora Reveals Red Sox Approach With Rehabbing Pitchers

Boston Red Sox starting pitching hasn’t been an issue in the early going. It hasn’t exactly been great, though, either.

The Red Sox currently have reinforcements to the starting staff in Triple-A Worcester in Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito. Both started the season on the injured list with Bello dealing with a right shoulder strain and Giolito a left hamstring strain.

Bello and Giolito each have two rehab starts under their belt with Giolito pitching 3 1/3 innings Wednesday night, which matched Bello’s inning total from Sunday. Despite those appearances, it doesn’t look like they’ll join the Red Sox this week or perhaps even next week.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora would like to see both right-handed pitchers work deeper into games and the organization won’t push them as they continue to ramp up.

“We’ll talk about it afterward,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “Bello went 3 1/3 the other day. It’s kind of spring training (in terms of buildup). They need the innings. So we’ll be patient. I know they’re feeling well but we have to make sure they’re ready to go. When they come here, 3 1/3 is hard to manage.”

Bello has another rehab start lined up for Friday and it looks like he’ll have at least one more after that. The 25-year-old hasn’t been sharp with Worcester, allowing five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Giolito has looked better out of the two. He owns a 1.59 ERA across two starts with Worcester.

Kutter Crawford, who made 33 starts a season ago, is only throwing bullpens at the moment as he continues to recover from right patellar soreness.

Liam Hendriks will join Bello and Giolito on a rehab assignment with Worcester starting Thursday. The veteran reliever, who has yet to pitch for the Red Sox after signing with them prior to last season, started the campaign on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation.