Last Game
Mon, Mar 18 |
MLBN
  • Hammond Stadium
2
Final
5

AL East Standings

Team W-L L10 STRK
0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0

Top Tanner Houck News

  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fights mechanics in fourth outing

    Houck allowed one run on two hits while striking out three over 3.1 innings in Tuesday's spring game against St. Louis.

    Houck pitched the middle innings in what amounted to his fourth starter-length appearance; he's actually started one game and pitched middle innings in three others. There were some issues Tuesday, such as hitting a batter, spiking a pitch and leaving a pitch middle-middle that was crushed for a home run, but the right-hander didn't walk a batter. Throwing strikes consistently has been the focus this spring for Houck, who appears to have pitched well enough to claim a spot in the rotation. Through 11.1 Grapefruit League innings, the right-hander has given up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 12.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Throwing strikes

    Houck allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four over three innings in Thursday's spring game against Atlanta.

    Houck followed starter Nick Pivetta and looked sharp during his third Grapefruit League appearance. "He's throwing more strikes, which is important," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe. "His stuff is a little bit better compared to last year at this point." Houck, who had a 21.4 strikeout percentage in 2023, is up to 31.0 percent this spring. He had been competing for one available rotation slot, but with Lucas Giolito (elbow) out of the rotation for now, there's another slot available for Houck, who is competing with Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski and Cooper Criswell.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Another strong bid for rotation

    Houck allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring game against the Nationals.

    Houck followed starter Brayan Bello and easily navigated the fourth through sixth innings. This was his second Grapefruit League outing; he pitched two perfect innings in a start last Monday. So far, so good for Houck, who's thrown five scoreless frames in his competition with Garrett Whitlock and Josh Winckowski for the final rotation spot.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Two perfect innings Monday

    Houck threw two scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League start against the Phillies.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Role not yet known

    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.

    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. Boston could eventually need a new closer, as Jansen's name has popped up in trade rumors the past week, and Houck gained experience in that role in 2022. The right-hander would prefer to start though, and he used the offseason to improve his arsenal by adding horizontal break to his slider, get more action on his sinker and tinker with his splitter, a pitch he threw only 11 percent of the time last year. In 21 starts last season, Houck went 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA and career-high 1.2 HR/9 over 106 innings.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Ends year on a high note

    Houck (6-10) earned the win Sunday, allowing one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings against Baltimore. He struck out six.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Struggles against Tampa

    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.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Middling in no-decision

    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.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Tosses six scoreless frames in win

    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.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Start postponed

    Houck's scheduled start Wednesday was pushed back due to inclement weather.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Bounced by O's

    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.

    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 the Red Sox remain 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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Escapes with fourth win

    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.

    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.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Saddled with loss

    Houck (3-8) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Dodgers, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

    Houck scattered seven baserunners on the afternoon, with James Outman's solo home run in the fourth inning representing the only run he allowed. The right-hander kept Boston in the game but threw 80 pitches and was removed after four frames, with Chris Murphy piggybacking him and getting shelled for six runs in his four innings out of the bullpen. Houck will take a 4.93 ERA into his next start, which is currently expected to fall next weekend in Kansas City.

    ... See More ... See Less
  • Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Takes loss in first game back

    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.

    After a two-month stint on the IL recovering from being hit in the face by a comebacker, Houck returned to the mound against Houston on Tuesday. Despite the lengthy absence, Houck unfortunately 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.

    ... See More ... See Less

Player Bio

HT/WT: 6-5, 226 lbs
Birthplace: Collinsville, IL
Age: 27
School: Missouri
Experience: 2
Bats/Throws: R, R