The Red Sox finally have an ace again

Pitching has been the Red Sox's Achilles heel over the last half-decade. 

During the Chaim Bloom era in Boston (since 2020), the Sox have the ninth-worst team ERA (4.57), tenth-worst WAR among pitchers (41.4), tenth-worst HR/9 (1.28) and 12th-worst walks per nine (3.40). 

As the lead architect of the Boston roster, Bloom deserves some blame for the Sox pitching woes, but not all the fault. The Red Sox farm system was ranked dead last (30th) in baseball by MLB pipeline in 2019 - a system that was barren of top-end pitching.

Bloom has found a top-end pitcher in 2023. His name is Brayan Bello. 

The 24-year-old has struck out 113 and posted a 3.61 ERA, 22nd best in baseball, across 137 innings in 2023. According to Baseball Savant, Bello ranks in the 92nd percentile in ground ball percentage, 76th in limiting walks and 73rd in fastball velocity. He has a sparkling 6.5% walk percentage. 

Bello ranks 12th in the MLB in pitcher WAR (3.5), ahead of Spencer Strider (14th), Max Scherzer (16th), Framber Valdez (18th) and Clayton Kershaw (19th).

Boston (72-66) is just 4.5 games back of the final AL wild-card spot despite substantial starting pitching struggles and injuries. James Paxton, Tanner Houck, Chris Sale and Garrett Whitlock have all missed time due to injury, while Opening Day starter Corey Kluber (7.04 ERA) was moved from the rotation to the bullpen after struggling immensely. Kluber is now on the injured list with a shoulder injury.

Bello's pitching has kept Boston afloat. Bello posted a 3-2 record and a 3.34 ERA across six starts in August. In his first September start Monday, Bello recorded his team-high-11th win as Boston defeated Tampa Bay 7-3. Bello struck out seven and allowed three runs across six innings.

The win was imperative for Boston, who gained a game on Texas in the wild-card race thanks to Houston's 13-6 win over the Rangers. Bello now leads Boston starters in ERA, WAR, games started, quality starts, wins and pitches thrown this season. 

A career month from Bello in September could push Boston into the postseason for the first time since 2021. 

Regardless, Bello has established himself as the first ace of the Bloom era and is primed to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.