Is this rookie the future ace for Red Sox?

This story was excerpted from Ian Browne’s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Though the linescores didn’t live up to expectations in Boston or Worcester, Wednesday was a big night for two important Red Sox pitchers.

At Fenway Park, Brayan Bello, Boston’s top pitching prospect, became a “big leaguer”, as Red Sox manager Alex Cora put it. The 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, acquired five years ago as an international free agent at the modest price of $28,000, made his debut. The righty went four innings while giving up four runs in a 7-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

At Polar Park in Worcester, Chris Sale (3 2/3 innings, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BBs, 5 K’s) made what he hoped was his final Minor League rehab start in his comeback from a stress fracture in his right rib cage suffered during the lockout in late February.

Bello, backed by high-90s heat to go with a strong changeup and slider, represents the possible future ace of the Red Sox.

Sale looks forward to taking that role back for the present. With Nathan Eovaldi, the team’s other ace, still working his way back from a lower back injury, the Red Sox need Sale as soon as possible as they face a key stretch of upcoming games.

Though Sale won’t be in the mix when the Yankees make their first visit to Boston this season for a four-game series that starts Thursday, all signs seem to point to him returning for a start at Tropicana Field next week. Sale could make another start at Yankee Stadium in the final series before the All-Star break.

The Red Sox are currently in position to make the postseason. But there is also a fly in the ointment. The Sox are 9-18 against their American League East foes. And in series play within the division this season, Boston is 0-8.

The best way for the Red Sox to change that trend is for the pitching staff to get healthy. Not only is Sale expected back soon, but the same is true of Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock, the latter of whom is expected to provide the bullpen with a big boost.

As for Bello, he is more of a coming attraction.

“Obviously he's disappointed with the results, but at the end of the day, he's a big leaguer, and we're proud of him,” said Cora.

Sale was also disappointed with his results. But at the same time, he said something that should make all of Red Sox Nation feel good.

“I'm very ready,” Sale said. “Like I said, I know today was a little bit of a hiccup, but there's nothing that can't be ironed out.”