Red Sox option Tanner Houck to Worcester in short-term roster flexibility move

Tanner Houck figures to play a major factor for the Red Sox as they head into the stretch run and into the playoffs, but not over the next week.

Fresh off pitching four dominant innings to help the Red Sox to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night, Houck was optioned to Triple-A Worcester before Thursday’s series finale against the Blue Jays in a mildly surprising move. Red Sox manager Alex Cora explained that it was a short-term roster flexibility move, and they plan to use Houck as one of the starters in their Aug. 7 doubleheader against the Jays in Toronto.

“We have an off day on Monday, so for now it makes sense to go somewhere else,” Cora said. “As you guys know, he’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish. He’s a big part of it already. It just happens that roster-wise right now, in the upcoming days, this is where we are.”

Since the Red Sox called up catcher Connor Wong as the 27th man of Wednesday’s doubleheader, there was no corresponding move to sending Houck down. Cora said Wong will remain with the Red Sox.

Cora said Houck will throw in Worcester on Monday or Tuesday to stay fresh for his Aug. 7 start.

Originally, the plan was for Houck to be used as a sixth starter during the Red Sox’ initial stretch of games in 18 consecutive days to give the starting rotation an extra day of rest. But with Monday’s off day looming, the original five-man rotation is getting an extra day anyway.

Houck has now been optioned to Worcester three times this year, but they haven’t been performance-related. He has a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts to five walks across 22 innings in six appearances (four starts), including his first career save.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3laY09i