Red Sox reveal unique Brayan Bello plan, plus updates on Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, others

“From what I just heard, his bullpen (session) went well but I haven’t yet discussed any of that with Brez or Sonny,” Tracy said before Monday’s game. “I haven’t talked to him yet so we’ll have those conversations and we’ll see.”

Tracy didn’t have much on Suárez, who said he was hopeful of making his next start after departing after 70 pitches due to a hamstring issue of his own. Suárez would be in line to pitch during a four-game series against the Rays, which starts Thursday. He’s currently on hold — and while not on the injured list, not with the team for its three-game road trip.

“Everything was OK today,” Tracy said. “Nothing more to add to it. Obviously, it’s only Day 1 so we’ll see, tomorrow and the next day, the last couple days here, how he continues to react and we’ll go from there. There’s nothing really new to report, but (it’s) not overly bad to me.”

The Red Sox currently have five starters — Suárez, Payton Tolle, Bello, Connelly Early and Jake Bennett — active with Gray about to return. Both Bennett (pitched Friday) and Early (pitched Saturday) are candidates to pitch toward the end of the week against Tampa Bay. The Red Sox could choose to go with a six-man rotation for one turn in an effort to re-install Gray and keep their young arms fresh with an extra day of rest. In theory, the club could throw Bennett, Early and Suárez on six days of rest on Thursday, Friday and Saturday while clearing a spot for Gray by sending down a reliever like newly recalled lefty Alec Gamboa.

“Bails (Andrew Bailey) has both him (Bennett) and Early prepping to throw when we get back,” Tracy said. “We can always adjust from there. Based on where we’re at with the rotation and not knowing the day, he’s got them both prepared. It’s much more easy to move somebody back than it is forward. We’ll have them both prepared and be able to make that adjustment on the fly.”

Notably, injured ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder inflammation) made the trip to Detroit as he continues playing catch and building up strength in his shoulder. He’s eligible to return May 12 but might need longer.

“Garrett wanted to come,” Tracy said. “Medically, the staff felt like with what they were doing with him strengthening-wise, they felt like they could handle that with him being on the road with us. That was more his call and our medical people being good with the load of getting him right, too.”

Slaten set for another rehab outing in Worcester

Tracy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed injured reliever Justin Slaten, who pitched a shutout inning for Double-A Portland on Sunday, is set to make a second rehab appearance either Tuesday or Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester at home. It’s unclear if that may be Slaten’s last rehab appearance before returning.

Slaten, who is dealing with a right oblique strain, last pitched April 4.

More Red Sox coverage

• What they’re saying nationally about Framber Valdez hitting Trevor Story with pitch
• Red Sox’ Brayan Bello: ‘For me, the season starts today’
• How top Red Sox prospect’s fastball has become ‘something amazing’
• Fenway Insider: Submit questions for MassLive’s Sean McAdam
• Red Sox say Framber Valdez intentionally hit Trevor Story with pitch: ‘It was weak,’ says Chad Tracy

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