Houck (5-10) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits over three innings against the Rays. He struck out two.
Houck struggled from the outset Tuesday, allowing three runs in the opening inning before the Rays tacked on another four runs in the third. The 27-year-old right-hander had looked better of late, allowing just two runs over his prior two outings (10 innings). Overall, Houck's ERA is up to 5.31 with a 1.41 WHIP and 93:38 K:BB through 20 starts (100 innings) this season. He'll likely get one more chance to end his season on a high note, as Houck's currently lined up to pitch in Boston's season finale this weekend against Baltimore.
Houck did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings against the Rangers. He struck out four.
Houck didn't have his typical command Tuesday, walking four batters and hitting another to tie his season high in walks allowed. Though he limited the Rangers to three hits, one of them was a solo homer by Adolis Garcia in the second frame. Over four starts this month (20.1 innings), Houck owns a 2-1 record to go along with a 4.87 ERA and 21:10 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled for a date with the Rays at Fenway Park early next week.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tosses six scoreless frames in win
Rotowire
Houck (5-9) earned the win over the Yankees in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. He allowed four hits and issued three walks while striking out seven batters over six scoreless innings.
Houck excelled in the outing, racking up 19 whiffs and seven punchouts. He finished without yielding a run for the first time if 18 starts this season, bouncing back nicely from a five-run, 5.1-inning performance against Baltimore his previous time out. Houck also notched his first quality start since June 10, which was one appearance prior to a start June 16 during which he suffered a facial fracture that kept him out of action for over two months. The right-hander has compiled a 4.94 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 87:34 K:BB over 93 innings overall this season.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Start postponed
Rotowire
Houck's scheduled start Wednesday was pushed back due to inclement weather.
The Red Sox and Yankees will play a doubleheader Thursday, and Houck is slated to start in Game 1. The 27-year-old righty will be looking for a bounce-back performance after surrendering nine runs over 10.1 innings across his last two starts.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Bounced by O's
Rotowire
Houck (4-9) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were routed 11-2 by the Orioles. He struck out five.
The right-hander held Baltimore off the board for three innings before a Ryan O'Hearn solo shot in the fourth cracked open the floodgates. Houck has struggled since his return to the rotation, posting a 6.05 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 19.1 innings in four starts, and while the Red Sox remain on the fringes of the wild-card picture, they're more likely to stick with the 27-year-old in the name of his future development rather than shift him to the bullpen. Houck's next start lines up for a meeting with the Yankees next week at Fenway Park.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Escapes with fourth win
Rotowire
Houck (4-8) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings in Boston's 9-5 win over Kansas City. He struck out five.
The right-hander cruised through five innings before hitting a wall in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out on two singles and a hit-by-pitch. Houck then had to watch all three baserunners come around to score after he'd left the mound, but fortunately for the Red Sox, they'd already scored all nine of their runs at that point. It's Houck's first win since April 20, snapping an eight-decision losing streak, and in three starts since being activated from the IL in late August he's stumbled to a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB through 14 innings. With Boston trying to stay alive in the wild-card race, it's not clear how patient the team can afford to be with the 27-year-old, but for the moment his next start is lined up for a home series next weekend against the Orioles.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Saddled with loss
Rotowire
Houck (3-8) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Houck scattered seven baserunners on the afternoon, with James Outman's solo home run in the fourth inning representing the only run he allowed. The right-hander kept Boston in the game but threw 80 pitches and was removed after four frames, with Chris Murphy piggybacking him and getting shelled for six runs in his four innings out of the bullpen. Houck will take a 4.93 ERA into his next start, which is currently expected to fall next weekend in Kansas City.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Takes loss in first game back
Rotowire
Houck (3-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Astros. He struck out two.
After a two-month stint on the IL recovering from being hit in the face by a comebacker, Houck returned to the mound against Houston on Tuesday. Despite the lengthy absence, Houck unfortunately picked up right where he left off, taking his seventh loss of the season and extending his win drought to 118 days (10 starts). Though he was limited to 69 pitches in Tuesday's return, fantasy managers should expect Houck's pitch count to increase over the next few starts. However, he's lined up to take on the Dodgers next time out, making him an unattractive option in nearly all fantasy formats.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Activated from IL
Rotowire
Houck (face) was activated from the injured list Tuesday ahead of his start against the Astros, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been out since mid-June after suffering facial fractures on a comebacker, requiring surgery. The 27-year-old has been deemed ready to return after a three-start rehab assignment, with Houck seemingly sealing his activation by tossing 59 pitches across four scoreless frames in his most recent minor-league outing. Chris Murphy was optioned in a corresponding move. Houck has another tough matchup tentatively lined up against the Dodgers this weekend, but he could be a solid streaming option next week in Kansas City, assuming he sticks in the rotation.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Making return Tuesday at Houston
Rotowire
Houck (face) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday against the Astros, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been sidelined since mid-June after being struck in the face by a comebacker and requiring surgery, but he's been cleared to rejoin Boston's rotation after a three-start rehab assignment. Houck threw 59 pitches over four scoreless innings during his final rehab start, so he'll likely have some workload limitations in his return to the big-league mound.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Will return early next week
Rotowire
Houck (face) will be activated to start Monday or Tuesday in Houston, MLB.com reports.
Houck was sharp in his third and final rehab start Wednesday, firing four scoreless innings and allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four. He threw 59 pitches Wednesday, which means the Red Sox may have him on a limited pitch count when he starts against the Astros.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Dominates in third rehab start
Rotowire
Houck (face) struck out four over four scoreless innings and allowed one hit and no walks in his third rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Houck has been razor sharp over his most recent two outings for Worcester, covering seven scoreless frames while striking out seven and permitting just three baserunners. He was lifted after 59 pitches (36 strikes) Wednesday, and though he isn't yet stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload, the Red Sox are likely to bring Houck back from the 15-day injured list and have him make his next appearance in the big leagues. Houck tentatively lines up for a return Monday in Houston, and he could be part of a six-man rotation if the Red Sox elect to keep Nick Pivetta in a starting role.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for Monday return
Rotowire
Houck (face) is lined up to return from the injured list and start Monday against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
After undergoing surgery to repair a facial fracture suffered in June, Houck is officially set to make his return after a two-month absence. The 27-year-old righty has already made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Worcester, surrendering two runs and striking out six batters over 4.2 innings, and he's slated to make one more start before his return to Boston. Houck put up a 4.32 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across his last five starts prior to landing on the IL.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: One more rehab start needed
Rotowire
Houck (face) will make one more rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Houck has been out since getting hit by a comebacker in mid-June, an incident which led to a facial fracture and subsequent surgery. He's made a pair of rehab appearances but has only built up to three innings, so the Red Sox presumably want him to get a bit deeper into the game before activating him. The team is planning on having him return during their series in Houston, which runs from Aug. 21 through Aug. 24.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Sharp in Triple-A start
Rotowire
Houck (face) worked three scoreless innings Friday in a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck cruised through the 34-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays, tallying three strikeouts while yielding only one hit and issuing zero walks. He still has to build up a bit more, but the 27-year-old appears on track to return to Boston's rotation within the next couple of weeks. He required facial surgery in late June after getting struck by a comebacker.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Next rehab outing coming Thursday
Rotowire
Houck (face) will make his next rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Houck has been on the injured list since June 18 after requiring surgery to address a fracture on the right side of his face, but the right-hander is closing on a return to the Red Sox. He made his first rehab appearance with Worcester on Saturday, covering 1.2 innings and allowing three hits and three walks while tossing 46 pitches. The Red Sox are preparing to bring Houck back from the IL as a starter, so he'll presumably require two more outings in the minors to get fully stretched out.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Makes first rehab start
Rotowire
Houck (face) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three over 1.2 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.
Houck, who made his first rehab start, threw 46 pitches (27 strikes) and was pulled as he reached the projected count of 40-to-45 pitches. All three strikeouts came in a scoreless first inning, when the right-hander worked out of a bases-loaded jam. His fastball sat at 91-to-92 miles per hour and topped out at 93, per Triple-A Worcester's official site. Houck is likely to make two more rehab starts before he returns from the 15-day injured list and reclaims a spot in Boston's rotation.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Returning as starter
Rotowire
Houck (face), who is beginning a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Worcester, will be stretched out and is expected to rejoin the Red Sox as a starter, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Houck has been sidelined since mid-June, so he will likely need multiple rehab appearances to build up his stamina, potentially setting up a mid-August return. Garrett Whitlock (elbow) will return as a multi-inning reliever.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Houck (face) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday for Triple-A Worcester, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Houck made it through another bullpen session Tuesday without issue and has now been cleared to pitch in live games. The Red Sox haven't announced publicly whether the 27-year-old right-hander will return from the 15-day injured list as a reliever or starter, and that decision will impact the length of his minor-league rehab stint. Houck has been sidelined since mid-June because of a facial fracture.
