60DTanner Houck SP BOS Tue 2/27/24 8:23 AM
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Houck threw two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League start against the Phillies.
EDGE Analysis
Houck induced three groundouts, two infield pop flies and one line-drive out over two perfect innings. The performance was a good first step toward securing the final spot in the rotation. "We played good defense behind him," Boston manager Alex Cora told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe following the game. "That's what it's going to take with him. He can pound that sinker down to righties and we have to make plays." Houck is healthier than he was last spring, when he came off back surgery. He's in the mix for the last rotation spot along with Garrett Whitlock, and to a lesser extent, Josh Winckowski. In reality, Boston may need more than five starters early in a schedule that has them playing 23 of 25 days in five cities. The Red Sox are not expected to deploy a six-man rotation, but an extra starter could be needed during April depending on how hard the rotation works. Both Houck and Whitlock will be built up to five-plus innings, so they'll be available in any role.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Fri 2/9/24 11:28 PM
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Houck is preparing as a starter but could be needed as a reliever if the Red Sox trade closer Kenley Jansen, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.
EDGE Analysis
Houck will begin spring training on a starter's track, but he'll be one of seven pitchers with a chance of making the rotation. Those that lose out will head to the bullpen, which could need a closer, as Jansen's name has popped up in trade rumors the past week. Houck had experience as a closer in 2022, but his first passion is starting, and the right-hander used the offseason to improve his arsenal. Specifically, he worked on the horizontal break of his slider, getting more action on the sinker and tinkered with a splitter, a pitch he threw only 11 percent of the time in 2023. In 21 starts last season, Houck went 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA and career-high 1.2 HR/9 over 106 innings.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Sun 10/1/23 10:58 PM
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Houck (6-10) earned the win Sunday, allowing one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings against Baltimore. He struck out six.
EDGE Analysis
On the final day of the regular season, Houck delivered one of his better outings of the campaign, blanking the Orioles through six innings after allowing nine runs (eight earned) over his previous two starts (seven innings). The 27-year-old Houck will finish an up-and-down year with a 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 99 strikeouts through 21 starts (106 innings). While the Red Sox could upgrade their starting pitching before the 2024 season, Houck seems to have the inside track to a spot in the rotation on Opening Day.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Tue 9/26/23 10:49 PM
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Houck (5-10) took the loss Tuesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits over three innings against the Rays. He struck out two.
EDGE Analysis
Houck struggled from the outset Tuesday, allowing three runs in the opening inning before the Rays tacked on another four runs in the third. The 27-year-old right-hander had looked better of late, allowing just two runs over his prior two outings (10 innings). Overall, Houck's ERA is up to 5.31 with a 1.41 WHIP and 93:38 K:BB through 20 starts (100 innings) this season. He'll likely get one more chance to end his season on a high note, as Houck's currently lined up to pitch in Boston's season finale this weekend against Baltimore.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Wed 9/20/23 8:58 AM
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Houck did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings against the Rangers. He struck out four.
EDGE Analysis
Houck didn't have his typical command Tuesday, walking four batters and hitting another to tie his season high in walks allowed. Though he limited the Rangers to three hits, one of them was a solo homer by Adolis Garcia in the second frame. Over four starts this month (20.1 innings), Houck owns a 2-1 record to go along with a 4.87 ERA and 21:10 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled for a date with the Rays at Fenway Park early next week.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Fri 9/15/23 2:11 AM
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Houck (5-9) earned the win over the Yankees in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. He allowed four hits and issued three walks while striking out seven batters over six scoreless innings.
EDGE Analysis
Houck excelled in the outing, racking up 19 whiffs and seven punchouts. He finished without yielding a run for the first time if 18 starts this season, bouncing back nicely from a five-run, 5.1-inning performance against Baltimore his previous time out. Houck also notched his first quality start since June 10, which was one appearance prior to a start June 16 during which he suffered a facial fracture that kept him out of action for over two months. The right-hander has compiled a 4.94 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 87:34 K:BB over 93 innings overall this season.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Wed 9/13/23 9:07 PM
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Houck's scheduled start Wednesday was pushed back due to inclement weather.
EDGE Analysis
The Red Sox and Yankees will play a doubleheader Thursday, and Houck is slated to start in Game 1. The 27-year-old righty will be looking for a bounce-back performance after surrendering nine runs over 10.1 innings across his last two starts.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Sat 9/9/23 11:19 AM
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Houck (4-9) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were routed 11-2 by the Orioles. He struck out five.
EDGE Analysis
The right-hander held Baltimore off the board for three innings before a Ryan O'Hearn solo shot in the fourth cracked open the floodgates. Houck has struggled since his return to the rotation, posting a 6.05 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 19.1 innings in four starts, and while Boston remains on the fringes of the wild-card picture, they're more likely to stick with the 27-year-old in the name of his future development rather than shift him to the bullpen. Houck's next start lines up for a meeting with the Yankees next week at Fenway Park.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Sun 9/3/23 10:08 AM
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Houck (4-8) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings in Boston's 9-5 win over Kansas City. He struck out five.
EDGE Analysis
The right-hander cruised through five innings before hitting a wall in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out on two singles and a hit-by-pitch. Houck then had to watch all three baserunners come around to score after he'd left the mound, but fortunately for the Red Sox, they'd already scored all nine of their runs at that point. It's Houck's first win since April 20, snapping an eight-decision losing streak, and in three starts since being activated from the IL in late August he's stumbled to a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB through 14 innings. With Boston trying to stay alive in the wild-card race, it's not clear how patient the team can afford to be with the 27-year-old, but for the moment his next start is lined up for a home series next weekend against the Orioles.
60DTanner Houck SP BOS Sun 8/27/23 11:31 PM
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Houck (3-8) took the loss Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.
EDGE Analysis
It was a bit of an unlucky defeat for Houck, who scattered seven baserunners on the afternoon with James Outman's solo home run in the fourth serving as the only run he allowed. Houck kept Boston in the game but threw 80 pitches and was removed after four. Chris Murphy followed and was shelled for six runs in his four innings, leaving Houck to assume credit for the loss. He will take a 4.93 ERA into his next start, which is currently scheduled to take place next weekend in Kansas City.