Red Sox Pitching Coach Explains Logic Behind Brayan Bello Opener Strategy

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The Boston Red Sox have a great starting rotation, but one issue they're still trying to solve is how to handle Brayan Bello's pitching days.

Bello has scuffled as a starter this year, going 1-5 with a 9.68 ERA in seven starts. He's been phenomenal out of the bullpen, however, posting a 0.71 ERA in his four appearances following an opener.

The problem is that the openers have struggled in front of him, which is a big reason why the Red Sox are 1-3 when Bello's had an opener.

Ideally, Bello wouldn't need an opener, but pitching coach Andrew Bailey explained why it's helped him pitch better.

"You're wanting to set them up for success. I think with Brayan, problem-solving for left-handed hitters is always gonna be the solve we're solving for," Bailey told NESN's Tom Caron. "It's not about us not wanting him to face the first three or four guys. It's about having other teams make decisions on the lineup construction. How can we maximize the right-handed hitters that he goes and faces...because he is so dominant against righties." 

To Bailey's point, Bello has been much better against right-handed hitters than left-handed hitters throughout his career. Righties have a .685 OPS against him compared to .798 for lefties.

Accordingly, Boston's coaching staff is trying to put him in the best possible position to succeed, which is also what's best for the team.

"If we can minimize the amount of lefties that he faces, the Boston Red Sox and Brayan are in a better position to succeed," Bailey added.

The main issue for Bello is that he hasn't gotten much run support, as the Red Sox have scored three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight appearances. Not surprisingly, Boston is 1-7 in those outings, but that's not Bello's fault.

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