Walker Buehler reacts to bullpen demotion

NEW YORK – All good, memorable postseason runs usually have one thing in common: A potent one-two punch at the top of the starting rotation.

It’s not a luxury. It’s a must.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, that’s one box they seemingly have checked off heading into the regular season’s final month.

With his seven innings of shutout baseball against the Yankees Friday night, leading the Red Sox to a 1-0 win at Yankee Stadium, Bello further defined himself as the kind of pitcher who not only can function on the biggest stages, but also thrives.

“He got better,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora of Bello, whose ERA dropped to 3.07. “Now, every five days, it feels like (Garrett) Crochet. It’s Brayan’s night and we’re gonna be OK.”

If it’s against the Yankees, it’s like going to be more than just OK.

Bello became the first pitcher in Red Sox history to go back-to-back games against the Yankees in which he pitched seven or more innings while allowing no more than three hits. For his career, the righty owns a 1.95 ERA against New York, with the Sox winning four of Bello’s five Yankee Stadium starts.

“I love pitching here,” Bello said.

Brayan Bello after 7.0 IP with 0 ER

“Strong, felt like I was commanding my pitches today.” pic.twitter.com/SSCLeRslCx

— NESN (@NESN) August 23, 2025

“Is it the final product? Not yet,” Cora explained. “But I looked at the numbers today, saw the ERA and was like, ‘Woah, we’re in a good spot.’”

Thanks in large part to Bello, the Red Sox are in a much better position than they were even a couple of days ago. With the first 1-0 win over the Yankees in 31 years (Joe Hesketh supplied the last victory in 1994), the Sox reside 1/2-game ahead of the Yankees in the wild card race, having clinched the playoff tiebreaker (winning the season series) against the Yanks.

Alex Cora’s club is also currently holding a four-game cushion on Kansas City, the team closest to the group of wild-card teams.

And now it’s fair to believe that not only is the postseason a reality, but a destination that could present more memories than previously anticipated. When you have this version of Garrett Crochet and Bello, it’s fair to dream.

“He enjoys this stage. He does,” Cora said of Bello, who has the sixth-best ERA in baseball (2.50) since June 15. “Threw strikes, was efficient, got ahead, stayed ahead. I even thought about him going out in the eighth but I hesitated. Our two guys (Garrett Whitlock, Aroldis Chapman) are really good at what they do. He did more than enough.”

Nathaniel Lowe spoke to @WillFlemming and @MikeMonaco_ after a 1-0 Red Sox win over the Yankees about the “treat” of being a part of this rivalry and what its like to be Aroldis Chapman’s teammate rather than opponent among other topics.

© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images pic.twitter.com/J9tbSd4Kfa

— WEEI Red Sox Network (@SoxBooth) August 23, 2025