Zack Kelly bridged Boston’s bullpen with four shutout innings in an 8-1 loss to Cleveland, a rare bright spot after a seven-run first-innings surge. Expanded rosters gave him a chance to show endurance and a cutter-driven plan that kept hitters off balance. Steven Kwan’s 11-pitch battle underscored Cleveland’s patient approach, while Roman Anthony’s oblique strain and roster chatter (Sogard vs Campbell) highlight Boston’s balancing act as rosters expand, with Alex Cora praising Kelly’s grit.

The piece sketches how bullpen depth could shape September and potential fantasy value for Sox relievers, even amid limited offense. It also flags Anthony’s injury as a variable in Boston’s prospect timeline and hints at how the Sox might allocate innings as the season closes.

The Boston Red Sox made a roster move to activate starter Brayan Bello by demoting reliever Zack Kelly, who had struggled with a 9.00 ERA in seven appearances, including a rough outing against the White Sox where he hit two batters. Manager Alex Cora remains optimistic about Kelly’s future, expressing that he believes Kelly has the potential to become a key reliever for a championship team, albeit with a focus on consistency. Cora suggested that Kelly might need to simplify his pitch mix while at Worcester to improve his performance. The decision to retain Josh Winckowski, who has shown the ability to pitch multiple innings, also reflects the team's strategy to bolster its bullpen.

Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello is set to return from the injured list to start against the Seattle Mariners, following a right shoulder strain. To accommodate his return, reliever Zack Kelly will be optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Kelly struggled in his recent outing, allowing multiple runs and finishing with a high ERA. Meanwhile, manager Alex Cora expressed optimism about Bello's performance, noting his improved velocity and pitch action from rehab appearances.

Bello, who missed spring training and started the season on the IL, aims to build on last year's experience, focusing on execution and confidence. Cora hopes to get a solid five innings from him, emphasizing the need for Bello to trust his capabilities as he returns to the mound.

The Boston Red Sox suffered a disappointing defeat against the Chicago White Sox, losing 8-4 at Fenway Park. Zack Kelly, the Red Sox reliever who took over in the seventh inning, struggled to maintain a two-run lead, allowing a single and hitting two batters, which resulted in the game being tied after he exited. Manager Alex Cora praised Tanner Houck's strong performance and emphasized the need for the bullpen to be more consistent.

Kelly expressed frustration over his performance, citing a lack of confidence and admitting he hasn't been as effective as his ERA suggests. Despite striking out eleven batters across ten innings this season, he has allowed runs in five consecutive outings. The loss drops Boston to 12-11 overall, raising concerns about their bullpen's ability to protect leads.