Tanner Houck

Tanner Houck will take the mound on Friday for the Red Sox against the Rangers.

Fantasy Impact

Houck allowed 10 runs across 3 2/3 innings in his final spring training start against the Rays. He'll draw a tough matchup to open the season against Texas.

Tanner Houck is taking steps to avoid the shoulder fatigue that contributed to a velocity decline in the second half of 2024, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Fantasy Impact

Despite the late-season dip, Houck showed growth last year, setting career highs with 30 starts and 178 innings pitched. Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted that the velocity drop affected the separation between Houck’s pitches, but mechanical tweaks should help prevent a repeat. The team is also exploring ways to integrate a four-seam fastball into his arsenal to complement his existing repertoire. Houck relied almost exclusively on other pitches last season, throwing just one four-seamer, but adding it could improve his effectiveness and durability heading into 2025.

Tanner Houck threw indoors Monday to maintain his workload after the Red Sox’s game against the Yankees was postponed, per Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Fantasy Impact

Rather than adjusting his spring schedule, Houck opted for an indoor session to stay on track. The 28-year-old right-hander set a career-high with 178.2 innings pitched in 2024, relying on a strong 55.9% groundball rate—ranking fifth among qualified starters. He remains a key piece of Boston’s rotation heading into the 2025 season.

Tanner Houck delivered a stellar performance, allowing no earned runs and just one hit over five innings in Monday's 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays.

Fantasy Impact

He walked one and, notably, struck out none, relying on contact management and solid defense to navigate through the game efficiently. This outing, marked by Houck's ability to suppress runs without the aid of strikeouts, underscores his evolution as a pitcher who can succeed even without overpowering stuff. His season ERA now improves to an impressive 3.12, reinforcing his status as a reliable option in fantasy rotations. While his low strikeout count for the game might concern some, his consistent control and ability to limit base runners (1.14 WHIP) should keep him valuable in most formats.

Tanner Houck will start on Monday against the Blue Jays.

Fantasy Impact

Houck returned to the mound last Wednesday where he worked four innings. He could make two starts in the final week of the season.