Houck (back) will throw live batting practice at Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck has been on the injured list since early August due to a disc issue in his back, but he was cleared to throw off flat ground early last week. The right-hander has made quick progress in his recovery since then, and he'll take another significant step by facing hitters Tuesday. Assuming he feels good afterward, it's possible that the right-hander will be able to begin a rehab assignment soon.

Houck (back) threw off flat ground Tuesday and felt good following the session, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck appears poised to avoid surgery to address the disc injury in his back, something that looked to be a real possibility as recently as last week. He'll start building up in the coming days, and Boston manager Alex Cora hopes the right-hander can pitch by the end of the season.

Houck (back) was diagnosed with a disc issue Tuesday and will return to Boston for a week of treatment, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck will be re-evaluated next Monday before the Red Sox determine his next steps, but at this stage, the right-hander's return from the injured list doesn't look to be imminent. If he responds well to treatment over the next several days, Houck could be back near the end of the month in a best-case scenario, but a return in September seems more likely. The Red Sox should continue to lean on Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber in higher-leverage spots while their preferred closer is sideilned.

Houck (back) will see a spine specialist Monday.

EDGE Analysis

This will be the last in a series of appointments with back specialists for Houck, the Red Sox's closer who was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 6. Boston manager Alex Cora believes the club will have a better idea of the right-hander's timetable after the final consultation, and the earliest he can return is Aug. 21. While Houck's unavailable, Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber have picked up save chances.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the team is still gathering information on Houck's back injury, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck was placed on the injured list Tuesday with lower-back inflammation. The pitcher has a couple of appointments with physicians coming up, and the Red Sox will have a better idea about a timeline after Houck has been evaluated.

Houck was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Aug. 6, with lower-back inflammation.

EDGE Analysis

Houck hasn't seen the mound since pitching back-to-back games on the first two days of August, so it's unclear when exactly he suffered the injury. The 26-year-old has been operating as Boston's primary closer, and Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber are the likely candidates to step in while Houck is sidelined.

Houck saved Tuesday's 2-1 win against the Astros, tossing 1.2 perfect innings. He failed to record a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Houck was brought in with two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth and escaped the jam on just four pitches, then delivered a 1-2-3 frame in the ninth for his second save in as many days. Manager Alex Cora's use of the 26-year-old for consecutive saves cements his status as Boston's primary closer after Garret Whitlock picked up two saves at the end of July. Houck possesses a 3.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 56 strikeouts in 60 innings, with eight saves in 32 appearances.

Houck fired a perfect ninth inning, striking out one to earn the save in Monday's 3-2 win over the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Houck had allowed a run in each of his last two appearances, but he was sharp after going four full days between outings. The save was his first since June 25 -- that's a product partly of his own shaky performance but mostly from the Red Sox's brutal July swoon. The right-hander has a 3.24 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 56:22 K:BB in 58.1 innings with seven saves, a blown save and a hold through 31 appearances (four starts).

Houck (5-4) allowed a run on one hit in one inning, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

Houck entered with the game tied at 6-6 and gave up a solo home run to Josh Naylor. That ended up being the deciding run. Houck has surrendered a run in three of his last five outings, and he hasn't earned a save since June 25 as the Red Sox have slumped to the bottom of the AL East. The right-hander owns a 3.30 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 55:22 K:BB with six saves in 57.1 innings across 30 appearances (four starts) this year.

Houck (5-3) recorded the win in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings victory over the Yankees after blowing his first save of the season, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks over two innings. He also hit a batter with a pitch and didn't get a strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Entrusted with a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning, Houck put the first two batters of the inning aboard before throwing the ball wide of third base on what was intended to be a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, allowing Gleyber Torres to score the tying run. The right-hander avoided any more damage thanks to double plays in the ninth and 10th, however, and he was still the pitcher of record when Boston scored in the top of the 11th. Houck hasn't picked up a save since June 25, but for now he still appears to be manager Alex Cora's first choice to close out games.