Brayan Bello‘s start did not go according to plan on Friday night to say the least. The Boston Red Sox starting pitcher allowed eight runs on 13 hits in 3 and 1/3 innings on the mound against the Baltimore Orioles in the game. According to Talkin’ Baseball, Bello became the first Red Sox pitcher to surrender 13 hits in less than four innings since the 1936 season.
Bello, 26, has struggled all season. The right-handed pitcher now has a 9.00 ERA in 22 innings of work on the mound. He has already given up eight home runs in his five starts. He has allowed at least four earned runs in three of those starts and at least five earned runs in two of his outings.
Advertisement
Friday night’s start was his worst performance of the season. He simply was not missing many bats as evidenced by the Orioles’ 13 hits. Baltimore currently holds a comfortable lead in the game.
Bello is still a pitcher with potential. He has been effective in the past. In 2025, he pitched to a strong 3.35 ERA across 29 total outings (28 starts). It seemed as if he had figured things out in MLB.
However, one has to wonder if Bello will need to move to the bullpen for some time soon. Boston may even consider moving him to Triple-A while he attempts to get back on track.
Advertisement
Right now, Bello is simply not helping a ball club that needs all of the help it can get.
Red Sox Struggling to Begin 2026 Season
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (21)© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Bello is certainly not the only Red Sox player struggling right now. Many of Boston’s stars have underperformed so far in the 2026 campaign. Injuries have also played a role in the ball club’s struggles.
The Red Sox entered Friday night’s matchup with the Orioles sitting in last place in the American League East standings with a 9-16 record. Boston is already seven games back of fist place. They could be eight games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the division by the end of the night.
Advertisement
Boston is hoping to turn the season around as soon as possible. At the moment, they look like one of the worst teams in the entire sport. Their performance is especially frustrating given the fact that the Red Sox had high expectations heading into the season.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
