Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello will make his return from the 15-day injured list Sunday when Boston hosts the Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Bello was Boston’s Opening Day starter and is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in five starts. He hasn’t pitched since April 19, when he picked up a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and landed on the IL five days later because of lat tightness.
Sunday will mark Bello’s first career appearance against the Nationals, who, like the Red Sox, will seek a series victory after the teams split the first two games.
To make room for Bello on the 26-man roster, the Red Sox reportedly will option right-hander Josh Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester. Winckowski has split time as a starter and reliever this season for Boston, going 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA over 12 appearances.
Bello, 24, will rejoin the Red Sox rotation four days after another injured starter — right-hander Nick Pivetta — also returned from the IL. Red Sox manager Alex Cora added Saturday that right-hander Garrett Whitlock, who has been sidelined with an oblique strain since April 16, will make a rehab start next week for Worcester.
Information from The Associated Press and Field Level Media was used in this report.