Brayan Bello's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello will make the team's Opening Day start on March 28 on the road in Seattle against the Mariners. Right-hander Nick Pivetta will get the ball for Game 2. Bello gets the nod to kick things off after Boston gave the 24-year-old a six-year, $55 million contract extension during spring training. He's a young pitcher on the rise after going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA (4.54 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP with 45 walks and 132 strikeouts in 157 innings over 28 starts in his first full season in the big leagues in 2023. If Bello can add a third effective pitch to his arsenal to keep hitters off balance, he has the potential for a breakout campaign in 2024 for fantasy managers. The matchup on the road in Seattle isn't a bad one for DFS gamers, either. RotoBaller has Bello ranked as the No. 59 fantasy starter going into his third MLB season.

The Boston Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello have officially agreed to a six-year, $55 million contract that includes a seventh-year club option for $21 million. The sixth year of the contract covers what would have been Bello's first year of free agency. The 24-year-old, who was mentioned as a candidate to start on Opening Day by manager Alex Cora, posted a 4.24 ERA across 28 starts in the 2023 season, his first full big-league campaign. He managed only a 19.8% K% on the season but he also walked just 6.7% of the batters he faced. ATC projects a 4.28 ERA and a similar 20.2% K% for Bello across 28 starts in the 2024 season. He does have a track record of far superior strikeout rates in the minors but he has yet to find a way to put hitters away consistently in the big leagues, putting a damper on his fantasy value, for now.

The Boston Red Sox and right-hander Brayan Bello are in deep talks in regards to a contract extension. The potential extension is of the long-term variety and would keep the 24-year-old in Boston beyond the 2028 season. Bello isn't arbitration-eligible until 2026 and has a pair of option years remaining. He made 28 starts for the Red Sox in the 2023 season, working to a 4.24 ERA, 13% K-BB%, and a healthy 56.2% ground-ball rate. He struck out just 19.8% of the hitters he faced a season ago but he also has a history of big-time strikeout rates throughout his minor-league career. He is a decent fantasy option but projects for a 20.2% K% in the 2024 season by ATC but his 4.28 projected ERA could play in deep leagues.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello said his agents have been engaged in extension talks with the Red Sox in recent weeks and that a deal may be close between the two sides. Bello said "maybe" when asked if a deal could be done before the end of spring training. The 24-year-old isn't eligible for arbitration until after the 2025 season and won't hit free agency until after 2028, but the Red Sox have vowed to be more aggressive in extension talks for younger players who are far from free agency after failing to lock up previous stars Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts. Bello is one of the most intriguing young arms in fantasy in 2024 and is expected to anchor Boston's starting rotation this year. He's gone 14-19 with a 4.37 ERA in 214 1/3 innings over 41 games (39 starts) since debuting in July of 2022.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello worked with Pedro Martinez this offseason and has come to camp with a new-and-improved slider that could lead to a significant step forward for the young pitcher in 2024. The 24-year-old could be Boston's most talented starter, and he feels the new slider can be his key third pitch behind a nasty sinker and a plus changeup. He also has a four-seam fastball. In addition to working on his slider, Bello worked on his physique in the offseason after wearing down a bit late last year in his first full big-league season. He lost his last three starts to finish 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA in 2023. Bello has the raw stuff to be dominant in his second full season in the majors in 2024, and many fantasy managers are targeting him in drafts as a true breakout candidate.