And then there were 2: Alex Cora’s options for Opening Day starting pitcher
With Lucas Giolito out, Cora is left to choose between Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta.
As the Red Sox approach Opening Day, Alex Cora’s short list for starting pitcher for the opener just got a whole lot shorter.
After Lucas Giolito was sidelined earlier this week due to a right elbow injury, Boston’s manager revealed that Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta are still in contention to open the season as the No. 1 starter on March 28.
Bello’s six-year, $55 million contract extension – penned Thursday – may serve as an indicator that the homegrown pitcher could be named as Opening Day starter. The 24-year-old served as one of Boston’s strongest pitchers last season, racking up a team-best 28 starts and retaining an ERA under 4.00 for most of the year.
“Of course I’m happy to be in that conversation,” Bello told reporters. “Obviously, I’ve been working really hard, came to camp early this spring because that’s one of my goals each year. And if that happens, I’m going to be ready to take the ball that day.”
The work Bello refers to came during the offseason with the help of former Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez. The two have spent the last few winters together at Martinez’ Dominican Republic property, improving Bello’s slider and physicality ahead of the 2024 season.
“It’s a lot different than last year. I think physically, he’s way ahead. … It’s not that he took it for granted, but he was very specific this offseason the things he needed to work on, especially body-wise. You see him around. He’s grown into a man now,” Cora said on NESN last month.
While Bello’s contract demonstrates the Red Sox’ confidence in the rising star, Pivetta remains a strong candidate for the starting position as well.
“Nick is a workhorse. He’s a strong kid,” said Cora, per the Globe’s Julian McWilliams. “He has his goals, and we all know what he wants to accomplish. He worked hard in the offseason to keep getting better repertoire-wise and body-wise, and he’s in a good spot.”
Pivetta, who had a bullpen role last season, made 22 total appearances, posting a 3.07 ERA. The righthander’s strikeout percentage jumped nearly nine points in 2022, from 22 percent to 31 percent.
“I feel like a lot of the core things I learned from last year kind of picked up right where they left off. I’m just refining some things, getting the conditioning down, getting the pitches up and up, and then getting into the season,” Pivetta said per Williams.
The Red Sox play a set of exhibition games versus the Rays over the weekend in the Dominican Republic. Martinez and fellow Boston legend David Ortiz are slated to throw the first pitch ahead of Saturday’s contest.
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