Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Open to contract extension
Rotowire
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: Earns win in efficient outing
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Houck (9-10) earned the win Monday, allowing one hit and one walk across five scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. He did not record a strikeout.
Houck was efficient Monday, needing just 57 pitches to complete five frames while allowing only two Blue Jays to reach base. It was the first performance this season where Houck, who came into the game recording a career-low 8.0 K/9, did not record a strikeout. The Red Sox have been careful with Houck, who has been held to 60 and 57 pitches over his last two starts since missing two weeks with shoulder fatigue. The righty has performed as Boston's best starter this season, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154 strikeouts across 178.2 innings and 30 starts. He is in line to make one more turn in the rotation this season at home against Tampa, assuming the Red Sox don't elect to end his campaign a bit early.
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Limited to four frames Wednesday
Rotowire
Houck allowed one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Houck was cleared to start for the first time in two weeks following a bout of right shoulder fatigue, but the Red Sox elected to treat him with caution and pull him after 60 pitches despite an effective performance. The right-hander had good control in throwing 70 percent of his pitches for strikes, and he yielded just a second-inning run. If he came out of the outing without any setbacks, Houck could have a longer leash in his next start, which lines up to come in Toronto next week.
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Cleared to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday against the Rays, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will be making his first start since Sept. 4 after he had been dealing with fatigue in his right shoulder. Before his recent absence, Houck had gone 0-4 with a 4.78 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 38:21 K:BB in 52.2 innings in nine starts since the All-Star break.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: On track to start Wednesday
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that there's a "big chance" Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The 28-year-old was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees after receiving extra rest between outings in order to combat a "dead arm" phase, but he's now on the cusp of making his first start since Sept. 5. Assuming Houck pitches Tuesday as indicated by Cora, the right-hander could have some workload limitations while making his first start in two weeks.
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
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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.
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tentatively lined up for Friday
Rotowire
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.
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Next start pushed to Friday
Rotowire
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.
Houck (8-10) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Red Sox fell 8-3 to the Mets. He struck out seven.
The right-hander came out flat, loading the bases before recording his first out and then serving up a grand slam to Jesse Winker. Houck shook it off and didn't allow another run, but Boston couldn't climb out of the early hole. It's the first time in a month that Houck wasn't able to last at least six innings, a five-start stretch in which he'd posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB through 30.2 innings, but he remains winless in nine outings since the All-Star break. Houck will look for a better result in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Orioles.
