Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Due back from IL this week
Rotowire
Houck is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list this week with his 30-day rehab window coming to a close Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Houck's rehab stint got off to a rocky start, but he's performed better over his last two outings with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, allowing just one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 9.1 innings. Despite his recent success, the right-hander is not expected to be inserted into Boston's starting rotation, with Richard Fitts getting the first chance to fill the vacancy created by Hunter Dobbins' season-ending knee injury. Houck still has two minor-league options left and could stick around with Worcester while continuing on a starter's trajectory until a rotation spot with the big club opens up. Boston also hasn't ruled out bringing him back as a member of the big-league bullpen.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Role uncertain
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Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that he hasn't discussed with Houck (elbow) about what his role will look like once he returns from the 15-day injured list following the All-Star break, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox recalled Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, and Cora indicated that he would get the first chance at replacing the injured Hunter Dobbins (knee) in the rotation. Unless the Red Sox decide to commit to a six-man rotation or elect to move Walker Buehler to the bullpen, Houck doesn't look as though he'll have a starting role waiting for him once he's activated. The skipper's hesitance in clearing a spot in the rotation for Houck is justified, as the right-hander owns a hefty 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through nine starts. He had an up-and-down performance during his five rehab starts between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, submitting a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 15.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Strikes out six in rehab start
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Houck (elbow) struck out six batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over 4.1 innings during his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Worcester.
Making the fifth start of his rehab assignment and his fourth at the Triple-A level, Houck tossed 76 pitches (47 strikes) and induced 12 swings and misses. With the All-Star break on tap and his 30-day rehab window coming to a close next week, Houck's minor-league assignment has come to an end. The right-hander accrued a 5.74 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB in 15.2 innings across his five starts in the minors, and the Red Sox will now have to decide if they want to open a spot for him in the rotation or have him work out of the bullpen. Boston could view Houck as an upgrade at the back end of the rotation over Walker Buehler, who has turned in just one quality start over his last nine outings heading into Thursday.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fifth rehab outing on tap
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Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck (elbow) will make another rehab start in the minors this week, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Houck turned in the best performance of his rehab assignment so far Friday at Double-A Portland, firing five shutout innings while striking out four batters. The upcoming All-Star break makes it hard to predict when the 29-year-old right-hander will rejoin the Red Sox, though he likely isn't too far away from activation.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Third rehab outing coming Sunday
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Houck (elbow) is scheduled to make his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Houck will work behind an opening pitcher Sunday, though the skipper was careful to note that the right-hander isn't being considered for a move to the bullpen and is expected to re-enter the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. The decision to use Houck behind an opener Sunday comes after he struggled in both of his first two rehab starts with Worcester, covering 2.2 innings between those outings while allowing five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Houck built up to 49 pitches in his most recent start Tuesday, so he'll likely need to complete an additional rehab appearance after Sunday before he's stretched out enough to slot back into the big-league rotation. When Houck is ready to return from the IL, the Red Sox could expand the rotation to six men, or Boston could keep a five-man setup in place by optioning rookie Richard Fitts to Triple-A or sending struggling right-hander Walker Buehler to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for rehab assignment
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Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck threw a couple bullpen sessions this week and has been sidelined since throwing 69 pitches across 2.1 innings in a May 12 start against the Tigers. Prior to the injury, Houck (0-3) had been roughed up across nine starts, notching an 8.04 ERA and 32:17 K:BB while surrendering 10 home runs across 43.2 innings of work.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Clear of structural damage
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Houck had an MRI on his right elbow come back clean Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old remains without a clear return timeline, but a clean MRI is encouraging news after he was placed on the injured list Thursday due to a right flexor pronator strain. Houck will be eligible to rejoin the active roster May 28, but it wouldn't be surprising if he requires a longer absence given the nature of the injury.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: TBD on next start
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Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that "as of now," Houck will make his next start Sunday against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
It sounds like Cora is leaving the door open for Houck to not stay in the rotation after Houck gave up 11 earned runs Monday for the second time this season. If the team goes in another direction, Sean Newcomb or Cooper Criswell could be candidates for a spot start, as Walker Buehler (shoulder) is aiming to return next week.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Clobbered in loss
Rotowire
Houck (0-2) took the loss Monday against the Rays, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 2.1 innings with one strikeout.
The Boston right-hander yielded a career-worst 11 earned runs in this outing as the Tampa lineup swatted two homers and eight singles. Houck lasted only 61 pitches and raised his ERA from 4.41 to 9.16. Houck is off to a rough start in 2025, as he also sports a 1.93 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He is currently scheduled to make his next start against the White Sox at home this weekend.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Logs first quality start of 2025
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Houck did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-innings loss to Toronto. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two across 6.2 innings.
Houck gave up his lone run in the first inning on a Will Wagner groundout that brought Vladimir Guerrero home, but Houck did not yield another run over the rest of his outing and came away with his first quality start of of the year. The 28-year-old right-hander logged a career-best 154 strikeouts in 2024, but he's punched out only 10 batters across three outings to start the season. Houck's next start is slated to take place next week on the road against Tampa Bay, when he'll look to earn his first win of 2025.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Goes four innings in no-decision
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Houck did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 8-4 win over Baltimore, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
While Houck was staked to a 4-1 lead after two innings, the right-hander failed to qualify for a win after needing 82 pitches to make it through four frames. It's been a shaky start to the year for Houck, who's now given up seven runs across 9.2 innings in his first two outings. He'll look to get on track in his next start, currently lined up for next week at home against the Blue Jays.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Takes loss Friday
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Houck (0-1) took the loss Friday versus the Rangers, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two batters in 5.2 innings.
Houck finished the spring schedule with 17 earned runs allowed in 13.2 innings and did little to turn the tide during his first regular-season outing. He managed to keep Texas off the scoreboard through the first two innings, but an early home run from Jonah Heim put him in an early hole. Boston's offense quickly responded with a run of their own, but another round-tripper from Heim in the fifth put the Rangers back in front for good. It doesn't seem like things are about to get any easier for Houck, as he's lined up to face a Baltimore offense during his next start that's already slugged seven home runs through its first two games.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Brutal Grapefruit League finish
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Houck allowed 10 runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rays.
Houck's final Grapefruit League outing finishes off what has been a rough spring training for Boston's No. 2 starter. He'll leave Florida with an 11.20 ERA, 29 hits allowed, five walks and seven strikeouts over 13.2 innings. The one positive note coming out of Saturday is that he threw 85 pitches and is ready to start the second game of the season Friday against the Rangers.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Builds pitch count
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Houck allowed two unearned runs on six hits while striking out three over 4.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League start against Baltimore.
Houck made his third start of what has been a rocky Grapefruit League stint. The right-hander has allowed 17 hits and three walks while striking out five over 10 spring innings (6.30 ERA). That he got a fifth up-and-down and threw 72 pitches is a positive sign for Houck, who was Boston's most dependable starter from April to October of 2024. Once considered to start Opening Day, those plans changed after Boston acquired Garrett Crochet during the offseason. Houck is scheduled to work the second game of the season, March 28, behind the surging Crochet (one run allowed, 10.1 spring innings), who will start the first game of the regular season.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Looks to avoid second-half slump
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Houck is taking measures to avoid the shoulder fatigue that led to a velocity dip in the second half of 2024, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Even with the second-half dip, Houck took a step forward overall in 2024. His 30 starts and 178 innings were career highs and a building block for 2025. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that the velocity dip led to a lack of separation on pitches, but the shoulder issue can be rectified by mechanical tweaks. The manager added that Houck is working with coaches on a few pitches, including a four-seamer that can create space for Houck's other offerings. The right-hander threw just one four-seamer in 2024.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Open to contract extension
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Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this offseason and is under team control through 2027, so it's not clear how much of a priority he is for the team to lock up on a long-term deal. The 28-year-old is coming off a terrific 2024 campaign, having collected a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames covering 30 starts.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Scratched from start
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Houck was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees due to right shoulder fatigue, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Houck was scheduled to pitch Friday on eight days of rest in order to combat what manager Alex Cora labeled a "dead arm" phase, but the 28-year-old righty looks like he will need even more time off between starts. Richard Fitts will make a spot start in Houck's stead Friday.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Confirmed for Friday's start
Rotowire
Houck (arm) is listed as Friday's starter against the Yankees.
Manager Alex Cora noted Tuesday that Houck had been going through a "dead arm" phase that resulted in his start getting pushed back. The right-hander will end up getting eight days between starts. He is 0-2 with a 4.25 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 26 strikeouts in 29.2 innings over his last five starts. Houck has logged at least five innings in each of his last 10 starts.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tentatively lined up for Friday
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Houck (arm) remains tentatively lined up to make his next start Friday against the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Cora also provided more specifics on what caused Houck to be pushed back, noting that the pitcher is basically going through a "dead arm" phase during which he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing. It sounds like Houck starting Friday in the Bronx isn't set in stone, so his fantasy managers should have a contingency plan in place, if possible.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Next start pushed to Friday
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Houck isn't expected to make his next start until Friday against the Yankees in New York after manager Alex Cora said Saturday that the right-hander will be pushed to the back of the Red Sox's pitching schedule, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
The Red Sox want to build in some more rest for Houck in advance of his next start while the 28-year-old has largely struggled since the All-Star break. In his nine outings in the second half, Houck has turned in four quality starts while pitching to a 4.78 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 38:21 K:BB over 52.2 innings. In order to facilitate the extended break for Houck, the Red Sox will call up a pitcher from the minors to start Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox, while rotation members Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta and Cooper Criswell all appear set to make their next turns before Houck takes the hill again.
