Houck (elbow) was shut down from throwing Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The right-hander landed on the injured list Wednesday due to a right flexor pronator strain, but he didn't appear to be in store for a lengthy absence after an MRI came back clean Friday. It's unclear if Houck suffered a setback since getting the imaging, but the pause in his throwing program likely means he'll spend more than the 15-day minimum on the shelf.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Clear of structural damage
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Houck had an MRI on his right elbow come back clean Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old remains without a clear return timeline, but a clean MRI is encouraging news after he was placed on the injured list Thursday due to a right flexor pronator strain. Houck will be eligible to rejoin the active roster May 28, but it wouldn't be surprising if he requires a longer absence given the nature of the injury.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: TBD on next start
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Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that "as of now," Houck will make his next start Sunday against Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
It sounds like Cora is leaving the door open for Houck to not stay in the rotation after Houck gave up 11 earned runs Monday for the second time this season. If the team goes in another direction, Sean Newcomb or Cooper Criswell could be candidates for a spot start, as Walker Buehler (shoulder) is aiming to return next week.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Rise in velocity in no-decision
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Houck didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays after allowing one run on four hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out six.
Houck's velocity was up Thursday, as he touched 97 mph on 10 of his sinker pitches, and it yielded perhaps his finest effort of the season thus far. It was the first time this year that the right-hander threw at least seven innings, and he didn't allow a runner to advance past first base until Daulton Varsho tagged him for a solo home run in the seventh frame. Houck is still recovering from a 12-run bludgeoning at the hands of the Rays on April 14, as evidenced by his bloated 6.38 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 36 innings in 2025, but he has a 30:12 K:BB over seven starts and appears to be trending up ahead of a scheduled home matchup versus an underperforming Rangers lineup.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Clobbered in loss
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Houck (0-2) took the loss Monday against the Rays, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 2.1 innings with one strikeout.
The Boston right-hander yielded a career-worst 11 earned runs in this outing as the Tampa lineup swatted two homers and eight singles. Houck lasted only 61 pitches and raised his ERA from 4.41 to 9.16. Houck is off to a rough start in 2025, as he also sports a 1.93 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He is currently scheduled to make his next start against the White Sox at home this weekend.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Logs first quality start of 2025
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Houck did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-innings loss to Toronto. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out two across 6.2 innings.
Houck gave up his lone run in the first inning on a Will Wagner groundout that brought Vladimir Guerrero home, but Houck did not yield another run over the rest of his outing and came away with his first quality start of of the year. The 28-year-old right-hander logged a career-best 154 strikeouts in 2024, but he's punched out only 10 batters across three outings to start the season. Houck's next start is slated to take place next week on the road against Tampa Bay, when he'll look to earn his first win of 2025.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Goes four innings in no-decision
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Houck did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 8-4 win over Baltimore, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
While Houck was staked to a 4-1 lead after two innings, the right-hander failed to qualify for a win after needing 82 pitches to make it through four frames. It's been a shaky start to the year for Houck, who's now given up seven runs across 9.2 innings in his first two outings. He'll look to get on track in his next start, currently lined up for next week at home against the Blue Jays.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Takes loss Friday
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Houck (0-1) took the loss Friday versus the Rangers, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two batters in 5.2 innings.
Houck finished the spring schedule with 17 earned runs allowed in 13.2 innings and did little to turn the tide during his first regular-season outing. He managed to keep Texas off the scoreboard through the first two innings, but an early home run from Jonah Heim put him in an early hole. Boston's offense quickly responded with a run of their own, but another round-tripper from Heim in the fifth put the Rangers back in front for good. It doesn't seem like things are about to get any easier for Houck, as he's lined up to face a Baltimore offense during his next start that's already slugged seven home runs through its first two games.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Brutal Grapefruit League finish
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Houck allowed 10 runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rays.
Houck's final Grapefruit League outing finishes off what has been a rough spring training for Boston's No. 2 starter. He'll leave Florida with an 11.20 ERA, 29 hits allowed, five walks and seven strikeouts over 13.2 innings. The one positive note coming out of Saturday is that he threw 85 pitches and is ready to start the second game of the season Friday against the Rangers.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Builds pitch count
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Houck allowed two unearned runs on six hits while striking out three over 4.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League start against Baltimore.
Houck made his third start of what has been a rocky Grapefruit League stint. The right-hander has allowed 17 hits and three walks while striking out five over 10 spring innings (6.30 ERA). That he got a fifth up-and-down and threw 72 pitches is a positive sign for Houck, who was Boston's most dependable starter from April to October of 2024. Once considered to start Opening Day, those plans changed after Boston acquired Garrett Crochet during the offseason. Houck is scheduled to work the second game of the season, March 28, behind the surging Crochet (one run allowed, 10.1 spring innings), who will start the first game of the regular season.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Looks to avoid second-half slump
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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.
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.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Open to contract extension
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Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
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.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Scratched from start
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Houck was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees due to right shoulder fatigue, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
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 the 28-year-old righty looks like he will need even more time off between starts. Richard Fitts will make a spot start in Houck's stead Friday.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Confirmed for Friday's start
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Houck (arm) is listed as Friday's starter against the Yankees.
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.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tentatively lined up for Friday
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Houck (arm) remains tentatively lined up to make his next start Friday against the Yankees, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Cora also provided more specifics on what caused Houck to be pushed back, noting that the pitcher is basically going through a "dead arm" phase during which he had trouble bouncing back from his last outing. It sounds like Houck starting Friday in the Bronx isn't set in stone, so his fantasy managers should have a contingency plan in place, if possible.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Next start pushed to Friday
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Houck isn't expected to make his next start until Friday against the Yankees in New York after manager Alex Cora said Saturday that the right-hander will be pushed to the back of the Red Sox's pitching schedule, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
The Red Sox want to build in some more rest for Houck in advance of his next start while the 28-year-old has largely struggled since the All-Star break. In his nine outings in the second half, Houck has turned in four quality starts while pitching to a 4.78 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 38:21 K:BB over 52.2 innings. In order to facilitate the extended break for Houck, the Red Sox will call up a pitcher from the minors to start Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox, while rotation members Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta and Cooper Criswell all appear set to make their next turns before Houck takes the hill again.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Sharp in no-decision
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Houck allowed three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings in a no-decision Friday against the Tigers. He struck out six.
After allowing six runs in a loss to Arizona in his last start, Houck bounced back with a scoreless effort, notching his fourth quality start in his last five outings. Overall, the 28-year-old Houck is 8-9 on the year with a 3.12 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 143:46 K:BB across innings this season. He's currently lined up to face the Mets on the road next week in his next start.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Stumbles against D-Backs
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Houck (8-9) took the loss Sunday against Arizona, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks across six innings. He struck out two.
Houck's streak of three straight quality starts came to an end Sunday, as he surrendered six runs for the third time this season -- all of which have come in his last 10 starts. During that stretch, Houck has walked three or more batters six times. He's also logged three or fewer strikeouts six times after having done so just once in his first 16 appearances. The right-hander's ERA sits at 3.23 after 158.2 innings pitched. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Tigers in Detroit next time out.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Punches out eight in quality start
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Houck allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits and no walks while striking out eight batters over six innings in a no-decision against Houston on Monday.
Houck held the Astros scoreless until the fourth inning, when he allowed a pair of runs (one of which was unearned). The right-hander surrendered another run in the sixth but was able to complete that frame for his third consecutive quality start. Houck departed in line for the win, but a late Astros rally stuck him with a no-decision. He hasn't picked up a victory in any of his past six outings despite notching four quality starts in that span.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Another quality start Wednesday
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Houck came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to the Rangers, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.
The right-hander left the mound after 108 pitches (64 strikes) with a 4-2 lead, but the Boston bullpen cost Houck his ninth win of the season. Instead, he had to settle for his 17th quality start, tying him with Luis Castillo, Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Zack Wheeler for fourth in the majors. While he's still giving the Red Sox some length in the rotation, Houck's overall performance had faded as the summer has worn on, and since the beginning of July he's posted a 3.92 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and poor 22:21 K:BB through 39 innings. He lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Houston.
