Houck is likely to start Tuesday's game in Miami, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He is not necessarily ready for the big leagues, but Boston's rotation depth has been tested all season and they are likely to turn to Houck, who is one of their notable pitching prospects, next week. The 24-year-old righty is not on the 40-man roster, but would need to be added this offseason as protection from the Rule 5 draft, so the Red Sox will get to see how he looks against big-league hitters before finalizing the 40-man roster during the offseason. He logged a 3.24 ERA primarily as a reliever in 25 innings at Triple-A last year after logging a 4.25 ERA as a starter at Double-A.

Houck was added to Boston's 60-man player pool Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck is unlikely to break camp with the big-league squad but could certainly make his debut at some point this season. In 107.2 innings across the two highest levels of the minors last season, the 2017 first-round pick posted a respectable 4.01 ERA, though neither his 22.5 percent strikeout rate nor his 9.7 percent walk rate particularly impressed.

Houck will start the 2020 season at Triple-A Pawtucket, Alexandra Francisco of NESN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck's name bubbled up as a possible candidate for the rotation in 2020, even before news of Chris Sale needing Tommy John elbow surgery. Now with two rotation slots to fill, the Red Sox are digging deeper to find depth starters. However, they plan to keep Houck at Pawtucket, where he finished up the 2019 season as a reliever. If the Red Sox are not a contender in 2020, they may hand out starting opportunities to their young starters, like Houck, Bryan Mata, Mike Shawaryn or Kyle Hart.

Houck is a potential candidate for Boston's starting rotation after the team traded David Price to the Dodgers on Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The loss of Price leaves a major hole in the rotation, and Houck is one of several possible candidates entering spring training. The 23-year-old right-hander has overhauled his mechanics and added to his pitch mix since being drafted 24th overall out of Missouri in 2017. He recorded a 3.65 ERA in his 15 starts for Double-A Portland last year. He then pitched well in relief (2.05 ERA, 22 innings) at Triple-A Pawtucket. The team views him as a starter, and Houck will return to that role in 2020. Other potential candidates include Brusdar Graterol, who was acquired in the Price/Mookie Betts trade, Darwinzon Hernandez, Kyle Hart, Mike Shawaryn, Ryan Weber and Hector Velazquez. There are also a handful of free-agent starters still available on the market.

Houck was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck threw 82.2 innings for Double-A Portland, recording a decent 4.25 ERA, a number which could have been lower if not for a .346 BABIP. His 22.1 percent strikeout rate and a 8.8 percent walk rate are each fine but not particularly impressive. He has the potential to be a back-end starter long-term, but he'll pitch out of the bullpen for now at Pawtucket.

Houck had his pitch mix adjusted mid-season in 2018 and had better results following the change, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck, 22, came out of Missouri with a two-seam fastball-slider mix, but the Red Sox had him focus on throwing four-seamers to start 2018. Things didn't go so well -- he had a 6.16 ERA over his first 11 starts -- and the right-hander returned to throwing the two-seamer as his main pitch. That led to a 2.86 ERA and 1.08 WHIP over his final 12 starts at High-A Salem. It looks like the organization found the right pitch mix for Houck."He went back to primarily a two-seam fastball with the knuckle-curve, elevating the four-seamer, sinking the changeup. And I think for now, that's a really good mix for him with everything we've seen from him and as he continues his journey through the minor leagues," vice president of pitching development Brian Bannister told Smith.

Houck posted a 3.63 ERA over 22.1 innings in 10 starts for short-season Lowell. He struck out 25 and walked eight.

EDGE Analysis

Houck was Boston's first-round draft pick (24th overall) in 2017 and, along with 2016 first-rounder Jay Groome, represent the organization's best hope to develop a starter. The Red Sox have drafted and developed just one pitcher that eventually made it to their big-league rotation, the dearly departed Clay Buchholz. Houck is a 6-foot-5 right-hander with long arms and an aggressive delivery that starts on the first base side of the rubber before stepping toward the third base dugout and throwing across his body. It's probably not how you'd teach someone to pitch, but Houck's comfortable with it and, more importantly, can repeat it. The team's pitching development analyst, David Bush, told Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald that the University of Missouri product's goal is to harness his mechanics and keep himself under control. He's expected to start the season at Low-A Greenville.

Houck signed with the Red Sox and will join Short-Season Lowell, Chad Jennings of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck, Boston's first-round pick in the 2017 draft, will join last year's first-round pick, Jay Groome, pitching for the Spinners. Houck's high-velocity fastball could be ideal out of the bullpen but the Red Sox are committed to him as a starter.