The Red Sox have reinstated right-hander Brayan Bello from the 15-day injured list, the club announced Wednesday. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Josh Winckowski was optioned to Triple-A Worcester following Tuesday night’s loss to the Blue Jays.
Bello will make his fourth start and sixth overall appearance of the season against Toronto on Wednesday. The 23-year-old returns to the big-league club after missing the last three weeks with a left groin strain he originally sustained while pitching in relief of Rich Hill in Houston on August 3.
In two rehab starts between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester last week, Bello allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks to go along with 11 strikeouts over eight combined innings.
Regarded by Baseball America as the top pitching prospect in Boston’s farm system, Bello made his major-league debut on July 6. Since then, the Dominican-born hurler has posted an 8.47 ERA — but much more respectable 3.65 FIP — with 15 strikeouts to 11 walks across 17 total innings of work.
Bello will effectively take Nathan Eovaldi’s spot in the Sox’ starting rotation for the time being, as Eovaldi was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation on Tuesday.
Winckowski, who started in place of Eovaldi in Tuesday’s 9-3 loss to the Jays, surrendered six earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old now owns an ERA of 7.86 and a FIP of 6.42 over six starts (26 1/3 innings) for Boston since returning from a bout with COVID-19 on July 26.
(Picture of Brayan Bello: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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