Houck (3-5) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Rays. He struck out six.
Houck tied his season high with four walks and allowed at least four runs for the fourth time over his past six starts. The 2017 first-round pick worked primarily out of the bullpen last year but has operated exclusively as a starter to begin this season. While his ERA has ballooned significantly as a starter, he's still posting a similar WHIP and K:BB, which suggests he could turn things around eventually. However, things won't get easier for Houck anytime soon, as his next start is scheduled for the opener of a three-game weekend set at Yankee Stadium.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Start moved to Sunday
Rotowire
Houck's start against the Rays has been moved from Saturday to Sunday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Friday's game between Boston and Tampa Bay was rained out, triggering a rescheduling of projected starters. Complicating matters was Saturday's scheduled doubleheader. Garrett Whitlock, Friday's starter, was moved to the first game of Saturday's doubleheader while the second game is TBA.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tagged with four runs
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Houck (3-4) allowed four runs on six hits over four innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Diamondbacks.
All four runs against Houck came in the first two frames, including Corbin Carroll's two-run shot in the first inning. The Diamondbacks were seeing the ball well, as nine of the 14 balls in play were hard hit, including five that tracked greater than 100 mph. Houck has taken a loss in four straight decisions, posting an unsightly 5.97 ERA during that six-start stretch. He now owns a 5.30 ERA after failing to complete five innings for the second time this season. Houck is currently lined up to make his next start at home against the Rays.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Will remain in rotation
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Manager Alex Cora confirmed Wednesday in a radio interview with "Gresh and Fauria" on WEEI 93.7 that Houck will remain in the starting rotation, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Houck pitched well in his start against the Angels on Monday with six innings of one-run baseball and eight strikeouts in a no-decision. The right-hander will remain a starting option for Boston in the place of Corey Kluber, with Kluber being moved to the bullpen for the foreseeable future. Houck has had his own struggles in 2023 -- the strong outing against Los Angeles lowered his ERA to 4.99 over 48.2 innings -- and while he has shown the ability to miss bats, his struggles against lineups the second and third time through an order make him a risky fantasy option when he's on the mound.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Possible waiver wire pickups
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If you're deciding whether to add Brayan Bello or Tanner Houck off the waiver wire, take your cue from the old Old El Paso commercial: why not both? While Bello is a pretty good bat-misser with extreme ground-ball tendencies, Houck is a pretty good ground-ball generator (51.8 percent) with exceptional bat-missing skills (12.9 percent). Those bat-missing skills have only gotten sharper over his past couple starts as he's faded his fastball in favor of more sliders and splitters. He got 15 swinging strikes on just 75 pitches two turns ago and 17 on just 83 pitches in what was his best outing of the season Monday. Granted, his ERA is still an uninspiring 4.99, but his xERA is 3.98, his FIP is 3.84, and his xFIP is 3.75.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Strikes out eight in strong outing
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Houck allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings in a no-decision during Monday's 2-1 loss to the Angels.
Houck has had some trouble working through the order multiple times, but he set down 11 of the last 12 batters he faced Monday and erased the one exception with a double play. This was his best outing of the year, though he's still winless over his last five starts and has just two quality starts in nine contests. Houck has a 4.99 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 46:17 K:BB through 48.2 innings this season. With off days Thursday and next Monday, the Red Sox may not need a sixth starter until they have a doubleheader June 3 versus the Rays. That could lead to Houck being available out of the bullpen over the weekend if Garrett Whitlock (elbow) returns as expected Saturday versus the Diamondbacks.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Pattern forming
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Houck has a 2.33 ERA the first time through an order, but the ERA swells to 5.40 when facing hitters a second time, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
The numbers get uglier a third time through, when Houck's ERA climbs to 13.50. Boston manager Alex Cora said nothing has been different about Houck later in games -- throws the same pitches, the stuff is the same, keeps attacking hitters. The pattern emerging could lead Cora to move Houck to the bullpen. The Red Sox are currently operating with six starters -- and a seventh, Garrett Whitlock (elbow), on the way. Decisions need to be made, and Houck's inability to sustain his early-inning success could make it an easy decision for the manager.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Gives up four runs in loss
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Houck (3-3) took the loss against Seattle on Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over five innings.
Houck pitched well early, retiring the first 11 batters he faced and making it through four innings without allowing a run. However, he surrendered a two-run homer to Cal Raleigh in the fifth and then opened the sixth by allowing the first two batters to reach base, and each came around to score after his departure. Houck did flash some good swing-and-miss stuff with 15 whiffs, and his early-inning success may help him in his bid to remain in the rotation. However, his overall numbers this season aren't great, as he's posted a 5.48 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB over 42.2 frames.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for another start
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Houck will make his next scheduled start, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
When exactly that start will come isn't clear, but it will either be next weekend against the Cardinals or early next week versus the Mariners. James Paxton (hamstring) is also set to join the rotation next weekend, so the Red Sox appear poised to use a six-man rotation for at least one turn. Houck was charged with three runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings against the Phillies on Sunday, notching four strikeouts along the way.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Will make another start
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Houck will remain in the Red Sox's rotation for now and start Sunday in Philadelphia, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
While manager Alex Cora committed to Houck making his next scheduled start, he did not guarantee anything beyond that. Notable is that James Paxton's (hamstring) rehab assignment window runs out May 8, one day after Houck's start. Houck has been roughed up for 10 runs (nine earned) over 11 innings in his last two starts.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Escapes with no-decision Tuesday
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Houck didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Blue Jays, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander cruised through four innings before suddenly falling apart in the fifth and getting tagged for all six of Toronto's runs, including a three-run shot by Daulton Varsho. Houck made it through one more frame before exiting after 96 pitches (57 strikes), and Boston's bats were able to get him off the hook for his second loss of the year. He'll take a 5.34 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB through 32 innings into his next outing, likely to come this weekend in Philadelphia.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Falls to Baltimore
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Houck (3-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings against the Orioles. He struck out two.
Houck was able to settle down initially after allowing a run in the first inning. However, the Orioles would string together four hits to score three runs in the fifth, handing Houck his first loss of the season. The 26-year-old right-hander has a 4.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 24:10 K:BB in five starts this season. He could be in store for a move to the bullpen with James Paxton's (hamstring) return looming.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Will get at least one more start
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Boston will stick with a six-man rotation through the end of its upcoming road trip, meaning Houck will make at least one more start before manager Alex Cora settles on a decision about a five-man rotation, Molly Burkhardt of MLB.com reports. Houck is tentatively expected to start next Wednesday in Baltimore.
Brayan Bello's season debut this week gave the Red Sox six capable starters, each of whom has pitched in the previous six games, with James Paxton's return from a hamstring injury also looming. A tentative plan which would send Houck to the bullpen when everyone was healthy may have changed Thursday, when he threw a seven-inning gem against the Twins. Houck has been one of the team's most consistent starters, going at least five innings in three of four outings and never allowing more than three earned runs. Paxton's most recent rehab appearance came out of the bullpen, which suggests the club is leaning toward a long-relief role for him. That would leave Houck and Nick Pivetta, who starts Friday, battling for the No. 5 starter job.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Improves to 3-0
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Houck (3-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over seven innings against Minnesota. He struck out seven.
He was sharp Thursday and allowed just three runs, with most of the damage coming on a two-run homer by Willi Castro during his final frame. Houck threw a season-high seven innings as the Red Sox cruised to an 11-5 win, improving his record to 3-0. He has a 4.29 ERA. 1.24 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB through his first four starts this season (21 innings) and has yet to surrender more than three runs in any outing. While Boston may still consider moving the 26-year-old right-hander to the bullpen when James Paxton (hamstring) returns, Houck has made a solid case to stay in the rotation.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Settles down after shaky first
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Houck did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over four innings during a 5-3 win over the Angels. He struck out six.
After retiring the first two batters of the game, Houck allowed three straight to reach with two outs, including a two-run double by Hunter Renfroe. The right-hander ended the first inning by striking out Jake Lamb and was able to work around a few baserunners en route to three scoreless frames before getting pulled. Houck failed to get through the fifth for the first time in three starts, but he did strike out a season-high six. He currently sports a 15:7 K:BB and a 4.50 ERA.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Allows two over five in win
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Houck (2-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings of work against Detroit. He struck out four.
Houck gave up both runs in the fourth on a double by Phil Maton and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Spencer Torkelson. Outside of that, the right-hander was effective against the not-so-good Detroit lineup, and the outing helped lower his ERA to 4.50 to go with the two wins over his first two starts in 10 innings of work. Assuming no changes to the rotation order, Houck is lined up to face off against the Angels during next weekend's series.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Notches first win
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Houck (1-0) yielded three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings Sunday, striking out five and picking up a win over Baltimore.
The 26-year-old righty rolled through four scoreless frames before allowing home runs to Adam Frazier and Cedric Mullins in the fifth. Houck tossed 45 of 70 pitches for strikes, including 10 whiffs on 27 swings. As was the case last season, he mostly relied on the slider but also threw 19 cutters. Houck is lined up to take the mound in Detroit next week.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Makes third start
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Houck allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.1 innings during Sunday's spring start against the Yankees.
Houck made his third spring start, and it's looking like he'll remain in that role for the beginning of the regular season. Both Brayan Bello (forearm) and James Paxton(hamstring) appear headed for the injured list to begin the campaign, which opens up a spot for Houck and another depth starter. Add in Garrett Whitlock (hip), who will make his spring debut this week, and there should be plenty of openings for Houck to stake his claim to the rotation.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Makes second spring start
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Houck allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings in Tuesday's spring start against Atlanta.
While the results aren't impressive, Houck faced one batter over the minimum in the first two innings when he registered three of his four strikeouts. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was pleased with the pitcher's second Grapefruit League start, Dawn Klemish of MLB.com reports. "As far as stuff, I saw a lot of swings and misses, and he used a split-change a few times today and kept them off-balance, so that was a good one," Cora said. One goal for the right-hander was to throw more strikes, and Houck threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of 13 batters faced. Houck, who has served in a variety of roles for Boston, was ticketed for a multi-inning relief role in 2023, but injuries to three projected starters make him a rotation possibility to start the season. None of the three sidelined hurlers -- Brayan Bello (forearm), James Paxton (hamstring) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) -- are expected to be out too long.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Rust shows in spring debut
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Houck allowed four walks and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless innings in Thursday's spring game against the Phillies.
Houck, working as a starter, made his spring debut and looked rusty. It was the first game appearance in seven months for the right-hander, who missed the final seven weeks of 2022 with a back issue that eventually required surgery. Houck told Ian Browne of MLB.com that he was "leaving the arm hanging behind" and knows the adjustment he needs to make. Houck is projected to serve in a multi-inning relief role, but the club is stretching him out during the Grapefruit League. He could emerge as a rotation member early on if Garrett Whitlock (hip) or Brayan Bello (forearm) aren't ready for Opening Day.
