Red Sox Call Up Raymond Burgos After 13-Inning Win Drains 8 Relievers

Q: Will Boston's thrilling 13-inning victory ultimately sabotage their historic hot streak due to a dangerously exhausted bullpen?

Probably not by itself, but it is a real threat to Boston’s short-term momentum. The immediate problem is clear: Thursday’s 13-inning win required eight relievers to cover 10 innings and 166 bullpen pitches after Ranger Suárez exited after just three innings. With no off day until Aug. 20, that is the kind of workload that can spill into multiple games, especially for a club already managing the innings of Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett. Boston has already acted as if this is more than routine fatigue. The Red Sox optioned Greg Weissert, who threw 34 pitches and was unlikely to be available, and recalled Raymond Burgos, a stretched-out arm from Worcester who can provide multiple innings. That move reduces the immediate strain, and Blake Wehunt remains a plausible emergency call-up if the club needs more length Sunday. The larger issue is rotation instability. Suárez is still working back from a groin/adductor problem and has not been fully built up. Bello is also not an ideal bulk option after throwing 114 pitches over three outings in seven days. That leaves Boston vulnerable if another starter exits early or if a bullpen game becomes necessary. Still, one exhausting night does not automatically undo an 8-game winning streak or a 31-36 surge. If Tolle and the next few starters can cover innings, and if Burgos or another call-up absorbs low-leverage length, Boston can survive this. The victory becomes damaging only if the next 2-3 games force another heavy bullpen burn.

3 articles · Updated · Over The Monster · Aug 7

Boston optioned Greg Weissert to Triple-A and promoted Raymond Burgos after using all eight relievers in Thursday’s 13-inning win over the White Sox.
Ten bullpen innings became necessary because Ranger Suarez lasted only three frames, and the relievers combined for 166 pitches in repeated high-leverage spots.
The strain is sharper because Boston has no off day until Aug. 20, and the club is already trying to manage innings for Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett.
Sunday could bring a bullpen game or even a spot start from Blake Wehunt, with Brayan Bello already at 114 pitches over his last three outings in seven days.
The roster move comes amid a surge—eight straight wins and 26 victories in 29 games—but the marathon game threatens to ripple through Boston’s pitching plans for days.