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Red Sox reveal unique Brayan Bello plan, plus updates on Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, others
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- Red Sox reveal unique Brayan Bello plan, plus updates on Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, others
DETROIT — With Sonny Gray working his way back from the injured list , Ranger Suárez having been removed from Sunday’s game with a hamstring issue and Brayan Bello struggling mightily, the Red Sox are taking it day-by-day when it comes to their rotation this week. While much is on hold, Tuesday’s plans are now set in stone.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said after Monday’s win that lefty reliever Jovani Morán will start against the Tigers as an opener with the right-handed Bello following in relief. Morán may pitch an inning or two with Bello, who has a 9.12 ERA so far this year, piggybacking him.
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“Right now, it’s anything we can do to get him going, like I said the other day, and get to be Brayan Bello, we’re gonna try,” Tracy said. “His responsibility tomorrow is still gonna be to take down the bulk of the innings.”
Morán has proved effective against both lefties and righties so far this year and has a 2.33 ERA in 19 ⅓ innings. Tuesday will mark his first major league start. The Red Sox are trying to complicate Detroit’s decision-making when it comes to the lineup and hopefully have Bello face the Tigers’ best hitters less often in an effort to get him back on track.
“Most times when people use openers, sometimes there’s a left-handed pocket that maybe you can switch the lineup up and also, it pushes him in the bottom part of the order, so when it flips back a third time, hopefully you can push him through and get him through five innings,” Tracy said.
The Red Sox haven’t named a starter for Wednesday’s series finale in Detroit but Sonny Gray still appears likely to be activated off the 15-day injured list (right hamstring strain) after feeling good coming out of a three-inning live batting practice session at Fenway Park on Friday.
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BETTING:For Tuesday’s matchup between the Red Sox and the Tigers, the over/under is currently set at 8.5 total runs on BetMGM . Our comprehensive BetMGM Sportsbook review provides an in-depth guide on how to use their app.
“From what I just heard, his bullpen (session) went well but I haven’t yet discussed any of that with Brez or Sonny,” Tracy said before Monday’s game. “I haven’t talked to him yet so we’ll have those conversations and we’ll see.”
Tracy didn’t have much on Suárez, who said he was hopeful of making his next start after departing after 70 pitches due to a hamstring issue of his own. Suárez would be in line to pitch during a four-game series against the Rays , which starts Thursday. He’s currently on hold — and while not on the injured list, not with the team for its three-game road trip.
“Everything was OK today,” Tracy said. “Nothing more to add to it. Obviously, it’s only Day 1 so we’ll see, tomorrow and the next day, the last couple days here, how he continues to react and we’ll go from there. There’s nothing really new to report, but (it’s) not overly bad to me.”
The Red Sox currently have five starters — Suárez, Payton Tolle , Bello, Connelly Early and Jake Bennett — active with Gray about to return. Both Bennett (pitched Friday) and Early (pitched Saturday) are candidates to pitch toward the end of the week against Tampa Bay. The Red Sox could choose to go with a six-man rotation for one turn in an effort to re-install Gray and keep their young arms fresh with an extra day of rest. In theory, the club could throw Bennett, Early and Suárez on six days of rest on Thursday, Friday and Saturday while clearing a spot for Gray by sending down a reliever like newly recalled lefty Alec Gamboa.
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“Bails (Andrew Bailey) has both him (Bennett) and Early prepping to throw when we get back,” Tracy said. “We can always adjust from there. Based on where we’re at with the rotation and not knowing the day, he’s got them both prepared. It’s much more easy to move somebody back than it is forward. We’ll have them both prepared and be able to make that adjustment on the fly.”
Notably, injured ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder inflammation) made the trip to Detroit as he continues playing catch and building up strength in his shoulder. He’s eligible to return May 12 but might need longer.
“Garrett wanted to come,” Tracy said. “Medically, the staff felt like with what they were doing with him strengthening-wise, they felt like they could handle that with him being on the road with us. That was more his call and our medical people being good with the load of getting him right, too.”
Slaten set for another rehab outing in Worcester
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Tracy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed injured reliever Justin Slaten, who pitched a shutout inning for Double-A Portland on Sunday, is set to make a second rehab appearance either Tuesday or Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester at home. It’s unclear if that may be Slaten’s last rehab appearance before returning.
Slaten, who is dealing with a right oblique strain, last pitched April 4 .
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