Boston Red Sox fans should circle the club's upcoming series in Tampa Bay on their calendar.
Veteran left-hander Chris Sale and top pitching prospect Brayan Bello likely will be in the starting rotation for the four-game set vs. the Rays. Bello is slated to make his second big-league start in Monday's series opener and Sale could make his much-anticipated return from injury on Tuesday, manager Alex Cora said.
Tomase: Only thing Bello proved is he is not Pedro
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SIGN UP HERE Sale, recovering from a stress fracture in his right rib cage, made his final rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Worcester. The 33-year-old didn't have the outing he hoped for as he allowed one run on three hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings. He reacted to the rocky performance with what he later called a "seven-year-old temper tantrum" in the WooSox' clubhouse tunnel.
The outburst aside, Sale should get a warm welcome back to Boston. He hasn't pitched for the big-league club since the 2021 postseason due to the rib injury, followed by a non-baseball medical setback. Even when he returned from Tommy John surgery in 2021, he didn't have the "vintage Sale" stuff. Cora believes this year's version of Sale will be different.
As for Bello, the 23-year-old right-hander will hope his second MLB outing will yield better results than his first. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in four innings during his debut Wednesday vs. Tampa. Still, his starts should be appointment viewing as he's the organization's most touted pitching prospect in recent memory. He's Boston's No. 3 ranked prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline.
Cora also noted pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock will pitch for the WooSox on Friday. Right-hander Michael Wacha (dead arm) still isn't feeling well and may soon be placed on the injured list.