Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that he hasn't talked with Houck (elbow) about what his role will be once he returns from the injured list, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox recalled Richard Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday to compensate for the loss of Hunter Dobbins (knee). Cora said Fitts will claim the open starting job in the rotation and couldn't commit to giving Houck, who is nearing a return from an elbow strain, a rotation spot once he's healthy. The skipper's hesitance is justified, as the right-hander owns a hefty 8.04 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through nine starts, and it could signal a possible move for Houck to the bullpen or Triple-A Worcester in the near future.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Strikes out six in rehab start
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) struck out six batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over 4.1 innings during his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Worcester.
Making the fifth start of his rehab assignment and his fourth at the Triple-A level, Houck tossed 76 pitches (47 strikes) and induced 12 swings and misses. With the All-Star break on tap and his 30-day rehab window coming to a close next week, Houck's minor-league assignment has come to an end. The right-hander accrued a 5.74 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB in 15.2 innings across his five starts in the minors, and the Red Sox will now have to decide if they want to open a spot for him in the rotation or have him work out of the bullpen. Boston could view Houck as an upgrade at the back end of the rotation over Walker Buehler, who has turned in just one quality start over his last nine outings heading into Thursday.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fifth rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck (elbow) will make another rehab start in the minors this week, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Houck turned in the best performance of his rehab assignment so far Friday at Double-A Portland, firing five shutout innings while striking out four batters. The upcoming All-Star break makes it hard to predict when the 29-year-old right-hander will rejoin the Red Sox, though he likely isn't too far away from activation.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Fourth rehab outing scheduled
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is scheduled to make his next rehab start with Double-A Portland on Friday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander labored through his first three rehab appearances at Triple-A Worcester, giving up a combined 12 hits (two home runs), four walks and nine earned runs over 6.1 innings. Houck will bump down a level for his fourth rehab outing, but as long as he's able to build on the 65 pitches and 3.2 innings he covered during his most recent start with Worcester, he could be cleared to rejoin the Red Sox rotation next week.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Struggles continue
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.2 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
This was the third consecutive shaky rehab outing for Houck, who left a lot of pitches in the middle of the zone, per Red Sox manager Alex Cora. His command was iffy, too, as he threw 42 of 65 pitches (64.6 percent) for strikes. Houck's 12.79 ERA during three rehab outings is higher than the 8.04 ERA had in nine starts with Boston earlier this season.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Third rehab outing coming Sunday
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is scheduled to make his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Houck will work behind an opening pitcher Sunday, though the skipper was careful to note that the right-hander isn't being considered for a move to the bullpen and is expected to re-enter the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. The decision to use Houck behind an opener Sunday comes after he struggled in both of his first two rehab starts with Worcester, covering 2.2 innings between those outings while allowing five earned runs on five hits and three walks. Houck built up to 49 pitches in his most recent start Tuesday, so he'll likely need to complete an additional rehab appearance after Sunday before he's stretched out enough to slot back into the big-league rotation. When Houck is ready to return from the IL, the Red Sox could expand the rotation to six men, or Boston could keep a five-man setup in place by optioning rookie Richard Fitts to Triple-A or sending struggling right-hander Walker Buehler to the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Makes brief rehab appearance
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) allowed one run on two hits and one walk over one-plus innings for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Houck worked around a couple of singles for a scoreless first inning and was removed after walking the first batter faced in the second. He threw 32 pitches (18 strikes), and the short pitch count appears to have been by design. Houck told Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com that he was pain-free. He said his next rehab start will come Tuesday for the WooSox and that he'll then make a third the following Sunday.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Houck threw a couple bullpen sessions this week and has been sidelined since throwing 69 pitches across 2.1 innings in a May 12 start against the Tigers. Prior to the injury, Houck (0-3) had been roughed up across nine starts, notching an 8.04 ERA and 32:17 K:BB while surrendering 10 home runs across 43.2 innings of work.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is slated to throw another one later this week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Houck has taken a step forward in his rehab after previously being limited to flat-ground work. The right-hander is working his way back from a right flexor pronator strain and will undoubtedly require a rehab assignment before rejoining the Red Sox.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Not progressing
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) continues to play catch but has yet to throw off a mound, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Houck has been throwing for over two weeks but has yet to progress past playing catch. Given that he'll require a rehab assignment, he's likely to be sidelined until at least early July.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Not ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Houck (elbow) has continued his throwing program this week but is not yet considered close to beginning a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
After being placed on the 15-day injured list May 14 due to a right flexor pronator strain, Houck was cleared to resume throwing late last week and will continue to work toward a rehab assignment. He's not expected to be ready to return from the IL until late June or early July, and it's unclear what sort of role he might fill for the Boston pitching staff once he's activated. Before getting shut down with the injury, Houck's spot in the rotation appeared to be in jeopardy after he turned in an 8.04 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43.2 innings through his first nine starts.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: To resume throwing Friday
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Houck (elbow) will begin a throwing program Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Houck landed on the 15-day injured list one week ago with a right flexor pronator strain but is nearly ready to ramp things up following a brief shutdown period. The Red Sox could choose to build up the right-hander slowly, especially given his struggles (8.04 ERA) prior to the injury.
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Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Shut down from throwing
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
The Red Sox placed Houck on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Tuesday, with a right flexor pronator strain, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
Houck was shelled for 11 runs in just 2.1 innings during his last start against Detroit on Monday, and his injury may have been a contributing factor to his poor performance. He'll now spend at least a couple of weeks on the shelf to ensure he gets back to 100 percent for his next outing; meanwhile, Cooper Criswell will come up from Triple-A Worcester to claim the open spot on the big-league roster, and potentially the Sox's rotation.
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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