The Boston Red Sox–New York Yankees rivalry is very much alive after the two teams clashed in the Wild Card round. While the Red Sox were eliminated in three games, the Yankees didn’t fare much better in the postseason.
The Toronto Blue Jays dismantled New York in the ALDS, erupting for an incredible 37 runs across four games to punch their first ticket to the ALCS since 2016. Watching it all unfold from afar was Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello.
As the Yankees struggled, Bello stirred things up on social media. When Toronto jumped to a 6-1 lead in Game 4, Bello posted a giggling emoji on a black background to his Instagram story — a clear shot at his rivals as they appeared to crumble. The jab didn’t age well, though, after the Yankees pulled off a shocking 9-6 comeback to stay alive another day.
Still, Bello wasn’t done. The next morning, he shared another cryptic Instagram story — this time just a surfer emoji against a black screen. While he didn’t offer any explanation, fans quickly connected it to his previous post. Later that night, the Blue Jays closed out the series with a 5-2 win, and Red Sox fans couldn’t help but think Bello saw it coming all along.
Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello trolls Yankees as Blue Jays eliminate them in the ALDS
Yankees fans have been particularly touchy about Brayan Bello’s recent jabs — especially considering they won the Wild Card game he started. In that matchup, manager Alex Cora made the puzzling decision to pull Bello early in Game 2, forcing Boston to lean heavily on its bullpen and even start a rookie in the following elimination game.
While the Yankees did manage to scratch across two runs against him in that series, Bello has typically owned them throughout his career. Over 65 innings facing New York, he’s posted an impressive 2.35 ERA and a 1.138 WHIP, routinely silencing their top sluggers. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, in particular, have struggled mightily against him — Judge is hitting just .095 with one extra-base hit, while Stanton sits at .200 with none.
Despite his early postseason exit, Brayan Bello still holds the upper hand in his ongoing battle with the Yankees — and he carries himself like a pitcher who knows it. His confidence has become part of the rivalry’s new spark, and unless New York can flip the script next season, Bello will continue to have bragging rights both on the mound and on social media.
