BOSTON — The Red Sox will activate righty Brayan Bello (right shoulder strain) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
Reliever Zack Kelly is being optioned to Triple-A Worcester to make room for Bello on the active roster, according to multiple sources.
Kelly, who made the Opening Day roster, took the loss Sunday as all three batters who he faced in the seventh inning reached base (single, two hit by pitches). A two-run lead turned into an 8-4 loss to the White Sox.
The 30-year-old righty allowed 10 runs, 12 hits and two walks while striking out 11 in 10 innings (seven outings). He owned a 9.00 ERA to start the year after posting a 3.97 ERA and recording 61 strikeouts in 56 ⅔ innings in 2024.
“I don’t think it’s as bad as the ERA says but I think it’s a struggle confidence-wise right now,” Kelly said after Sunday’s loss.
The 25-year-old Bello missed the first week of spring training with right shoulder soreness, then began the regular season on the IL after not pitching in any Grapefruit League games. He gave up 12 runs (11 earned runs), 18 hits and four walks while striking out 21 in 14 innings over four rehab starts (three starts for Triple-A Worcester and one for Double-A Portland).
“Obviously he’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish,” manager Alex Cora said about Bello. “Velocity’s up, which is very important for us. The action of his pitches are good. We know what he can do.”
Cora said he hopes to get five innings out of Bello against Seattle.
“I think he learned a lot throughout the season,” Cora said. “Didn’t start it well. We reintroduced the four-seamer for lefties. I think that was very important. And he learned how to use it. Changed speeds. Velocity was good throughout the season.”
Cora added that for Bello to start 30 games last year “was very important.”
“Now he understands,” Cora said. “So just go out there and pitch. That’s the most important thing. Don’t try to overdo it, especially in the first one. Just get your reps, see how it goes.”
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