Red Sox eyeing Jake Bennett as Brayan Bello’s replacement, probably for extended run

NEW YORK — Jake Bennett is on the cusp of another chance in the majors, and this time he is likely to stick around longer.

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The Red Sox held Bennett back from his scheduled start with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, and he is the “very, very obvious candidate” to replace demoted righthander Brayan Bello in the rotation, interim manager Chad Tracy said.

Bennett’s anticipated call-up will be for the Sox’ finale against the Rays on Wednesday. Following the rainout Saturday, they pushed everybody back a day, so it’ll be Connelly Early on Monday and Payton Tolle on Tuesday.

For Bennett, the return will begin a stay of indefinite length. Unlike during his first go-around, when he made two starts as a stopgap option, the Red Sox don’t have any starting pitchers nearing a return.

“It’s very obvious we’ve chipped into some of the depth at this point,” Tracy said before the Sox’ series finale with the Yankees. “And that happens during the season. You get to a point [when] you feel like you’re a little thin, and then hopefully and eventually you get to a point [when] you feel like you got three guys down in Triple-A that are all really good starters. That’s a good thing, good problem to have as well.

“But we’re in that place now, where, yeah, we got to give it a little run.”

The Red Sox are comfortable turning to Bennett, acquired in an offseason trade with the Nationals, because he has been so good with Worcester.

Overall, he owns a 1.60 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in nine starts. In four games since returning to the WooSox, those have ticked up to 2.45 and 1.36, but with way more strikeouts — 25 in 18⅓ innings.

“I love the strike-throwing ability. I mean, that’s the first and foremost thing that stands out,” Tracy said. “I know he’s worked on that downer curveball that he was working on right when he arrived here. He’s kept working on it.

“He’s got big extension, he gets in the zone, and he’s not afraid of getting in the zone, which is a very nice quality to have as a starting pitcher.”

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With Bennett, the Sox will have four lefthanders in their five-man rotation, including Early, Tolle, and Ranger Suarez. Sonny Gray is the only righthander.

Garrett Crochet’s best-case scenario for a return looks like early-to-mid July. He remains shut down because of what chief baseball officer Craig Breslow called a “mild” strain of his left lat.

Patrick Sandoval (biceps, elbow) will make his second rehab start Thursday.

“We’re gonna keep building pitch count, at least get him creeping towards the [starting pitcher workload],” Tracy said.

The Yankees selected Anthony Seigler, a catcher, in the first round (23rd overall) of the draft in 2018, then signed him to a $2.82 million bonus.

Eight years later, Seigler made his Yankee Stadium debut — playing second base for the Red Sox.

“I’m very excited to just have the opportunity to come here and play, obviously, but I’m not trying to make too much of it,” Seigler said. “It’s not overwhelming. It’s just another day at the park.”

The Sox’ lineup included two members of the Yankees’ 2018 class, with Mickey Gasper (27th round) joining Seigler. One player drafted by the Red Sox that year played: Jarren Duran.

The Red Sox will activate Garrett Whitlock (left knee inflammation) from the injured list during the Rays series, Tracy said. Tuesday is the first day he is eligible … The latest step forward for Romy Gonzalez: a “one-hand finish” to his swings during batting practice, Tracy said. That is a legitimate test of his surgically repaired left shoulder. Tracy added that he is “starting to creep closer towards a rehab assignment” … Roman Anthony remains shut down from swinging … On consecutive days, the WooSox faced three rehabbing Blue Jays big league starters: Dylan Cease, Max Scherzer, and Shane Bieber. They went 3-0 and scored 12 runs in their combined 12⅔ innings.

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