The Boston Red Sox travel to the Twin Cities on Monday to take on the playoff-hopeful Twins in a the first of a three-game series. The Red Sox are still technically in the wildcard race in the American League but still sit under .500 and have scuffled through a series of injuries this season. The Twins, meanwhile, are in the thick of a heated three-team race for the AL Central Division crown. The pitching matchup for Monday night will be rookie right-hander Brayan Bello (0-3, 7.36) of the Red Sox taking on veteran righty Dylan Bundy (7-6, 4.56) of the Twins. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10pm EST.
Technically, the Red Sox are still alive in the AL wildcard standings and they have welcomed back Trevor Story, Michael Wacha and Rich Hill in recent weeks but, in reality, the Sox are barely hanging on. The Red Sox are coming off a very uneven home stand in which they were swept by AL East rivals Toronto to start the week before surprisingly bouncing back and winning the first two games of their weekend series with another AL East playoff hopeful, the Tampa Bay Rays. On Sunday, with a chance to sweep the series, the Red Sox were thumped by the Rays 12-4. Starter Nick Pivetta gave up eight hits and five runs including two home runs before giving way to a bullpen that didn't fair any better.
Afternoon baseball on deck! pic.twitter.com/pvnDbDuuc8
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 28, 2022
Boston has been severely hampered by injury this season and have not been able to put together wins with any consistency since going 20-6 in June. Now, under .500, Boston is likely looking at a fairly major overhaul in the offseason as the team tries to return to the form that has made them a consistent playoff team. On the mound on Monday night will be, what the Red Sox hope to be, a potential piece of the team's future in rookie Brayan Bello. Bello came up in July and had a rough couple of outings before the team shut him down briefly. Upon getting back on the pitching staff, both in relief and starting, Bello has shown the promise that has made him Boston's top pitching prospect. In his last three games, Bello has a solid 3.60 ERA while allowing 12 hits in 10.1 innings pitched. He has found the strike zone much more effectively, which has opened up his out-pitch. Bello has struck out 13 batters in his last 10 innings pitched.