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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Houck threw indoors to make up for the innings he lost due to Monday's game against the Yankees getting postponed, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck will build up his workload in an unofficial setting Monday rather than try to make up the innings Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty logged a career-high 178.2 innings in 2024, and his 55.9 percent groundball rate was the fifth-best mark among qualified starters.

Houck agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Red Sox on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After logging a 5.01 ERA in 2023, Houck bounced back with a 3.12 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last season while also posting a 154:48 K:BB over 178.2 frames. His improvement will earn him a $3.18 million raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility, and the 28-year-old righty is expected to follow new acquisition Garrett Crochet atop the Red Sox's rotation.

Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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. He is in line to make one more turn in the rotation this season at home against Tampa, assuming the Red Sox decide to run him out there.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 manager Alex Cora confirmed that Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday against the Rays, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 (arm) was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees due to right shoulder fatigue, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

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 it appears the 28-year-old righty will need even more time between starts. Richard Fitts will fill in as Houck's replacement on the mound Friday.

Houck (arm) is listed as Friday's starter against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

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.