Houck (3-7) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Astros. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

After a two-month stint on the IL recovering from being hit in the face by a comebacker, Houck retook the mound against Houston on Tuesday. Despite the lengthy absence, Houck picked up right where he left off, taking his seventh loss of the season and extending his win drought to 118 days (10 starts). Though he was limited to 69 pitches in Tuesday's return, fantasy managers should expect Houck's pitch count to increase over the next few starts. However, he's lined up to take on the Dodgers next time out, making him an unattractive option in nearly all fantasy formats.

Houck (face) was activated from the injured list Tuesday ahead of his start against the Astros, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has been out since mid-June after suffering facial fractures on a comebacker, requiring surgery. The 27-year-old has been deemed ready to return after a three-start rehab assignment, with Houck seemingly sealing his activation by tossing 59 pitches across four scoreless frames in his most recent minor-league outing. Chris Murphy was optioned in a corresponding move. Houck has another tough matchup tentatively lined up against the Dodgers this weekend, but he could be a solid streaming option next week in Kansas City, assuming he sticks in the rotation.

Houck (face) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday against the Astros, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has been sidelined since mid-June after being struck in the face by a comebacker and requiring surgery, but he's been cleared to rejoin Boston's rotation after a three-start rehab assignment. Houck threw 59 pitches over four scoreless innings during his final rehab start, so he'll likely have some workload limitations in his return to the big-league mound.

Houck (face) will be activated to start Monday or Tuesday in Houston, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck was sharp in his third and final rehab start Wednesday, firing four scoreless innings and allowing one hit and no walks while striking out four. He threw 59 pitches Wednesday, which means the Red Sox may have him on a limited pitch count when he starts against the Astros.

Houck (face) is lined up to return from the injured list and start Monday against the Astros, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

After undergoing surgery to repair a facial fracture suffered in June, Houck is officially set to make his return after a two-month absence. The 27-year-old righty has already made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Worcester, surrendering two runs and striking out six batters over 4.2 innings, and he's slated to make one more start before his return to Boston. Houck put up a 4.32 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across his last five starts prior to landing on the IL.

Houck (face) will make one more rehab start before returning from the injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck has been out since getting hit by a comebacker in mid-June, an incident which lead to a facial fracture and subsequent surgery. He's made a pair of rehab appearances but has only built up to three innings, so the Red Sox presumably want him to get a bit deeper into the game before activating him. The team is planning on having him return during their series in Houston, which runs from Aug. 21 through Aug. 24.

Houck (face) worked three scoreless innings Friday in a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck cruised through the 34-pitch outing against the Triple-A affiliate of the Blue Jays, tallying three strikeouts while yielding only one hit and issuing zero walks. He still has to build up a bit more on the farm, but the 27-year-old appears on track to return to Boston's rotation within the next couple of weeks. He required facial surgery in late June after getting struck by a comebacker.

Houck (face) will make his next rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck has been on the injured list since June 18 after requiring surgery to address a fracture on the right side of his face, but the right-hander is closing on a return to the Red Sox. He made his first rehab appearance with Worcester on Saturday, covering 1.2 innings and allowing three hits and three walks while tossing 46 pitches. The Red Sox are preparing to bring Houck back from the IL as a starter, so he'll presumably require two more outings in the minors to get fully stretched out.

Houck (face) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three over 1.2 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Houck, who made his first rehab start, threw 46 pitches (27 strikes) and was pulled as he reached the projected count of 40-to-45 pitches. All three strikeouts came in a scoreless first inning, when the right-hander worked out of a bases-loaded jam. His fastball sat at 91-to-92 miles per hour and topped out at 93, per Triple-A Worcester's official site. Houck is likely to make two more rehab starts before he returns from the 15-day injured list and reclaims a spot in Boston's rotation.

Houck (face) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday for Triple-A Worcester, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houck made it through another bullpen session Tuesday without issue and has now been cleared to pitch in live games. The Red Sox haven't announced publicly whether the 27-year-old right-hander will return from the 15-day injured list as a reliever or starter, and that decision will impact the length of his minor-league rehab stint. Houck has been sidelined since mid-June because of a facial fracture.