Tanner Houck

Tanner Houck

28-Year-Old PitcherSP
Boston Red Sox
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Houck worked exclusively as a starter in 2024 and shaved nearly two runs off his ERA, improved his walk rate and was better against lefties on his way to posting a 3.9 fWAR. The right-hander still refers to his money pitch as a slider, but it acted like a sweeper, which he was influenced to throw by new pitching coach Andrew Bailey. There weren't many starters better in the first half than Houck, whose 2.54 ERA and strikeout-per-inning rate landed him in the All-Star Game. He fell off in the second half, but the team views 2024 as a season of growth. Houck pitched deeper into games, improved in the latter innings, and a high groundball rate (93rd percentile) kept home runs down over his career-high 30 starts. Houck was poised to start Opening Day, but that staff ace will now be Garrett Crochet, for whom Boston traded a couple of top prospects. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
$Signed a one-year, $770,000 contract with the Red Sox in March of 2024.
Open to contract extension
PBoston Red Sox
November 12, 2024
Houck is "always open" to discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
ANALYSIS
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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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
89
Last 10 Games
85
Last 5 Games
77
How many pitches does Tanner Houck generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Tanner Houck generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-1%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-14%
BAA vs LHP
2023
 
 
-13%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-21%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .239 736 144 69 154 33 0 19
Since 2022vs Right .236 716 165 42 155 24 0 9
2024vs Left .215 395 72 30 76 15 0 5
2024vs Right .249 347 82 18 80 12 0 6
2023vs Left .271 240 51 25 56 15 0 11
2023vs Right .236 223 48 16 48 9 0 3
2022vs Left .259 101 21 14 22 3 0 3
2022vs Right .205 146 35 8 27 3 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-27%
ERA on Road
2024
 
 
-13%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-28%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-59%
ERA on Road
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 4.27 1.27 179.1 9 15 3 7.8 2.8 0.8
Since 2022Away 3.10 1.16 165.1 11 9 5 8.3 3.0 0.7
2024Home 3.33 1.17 94.2 4 6 0 7.0 2.4 0.6
2024Away 2.89 1.11 84.0 5 4 0 8.6 2.5 0.5
2023Home 5.80 1.55 54.1 3 5 0 8.9 3.6 1.3
2023Away 4.18 1.18 51.2 3 5 0 7.8 3.3 1.0
2022Home 4.45 1.09 30.1 2 4 3 8.3 2.4 0.6
2022Away 1.82 1.28 29.2 3 0 5 8.5 4.2 0.3
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Tanner Houck compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
3.21
 
K/9
7.8
 
BB/9
2.4
 
HR/9
0.6
 
Fastball
93.6 mph
 
ERA
3.12
 
WHIP
1.14
 
BABIP
.293
 
GB/FB
2.77
 
Left On Base
68.4%
 
Exit Velocity
83.2 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
3.6%
 
Spin Rate
2203 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
29.0%
 
Swinging Strike
10.1%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
After bouncing back-and-forth between starting and relieving the previous two seasons, Houck was used exclusively as a starter by the Red Sox in 2023. The results were middling, with Houck finishing with an ERA over 5.00 and not posting an ERA below 4.00 in any month. His strikeout rate (21.4 percent) was also below the league average. Houck generates lots of grounders (53 percent) and does a good job of avoiding the long ball. However, he's always had problems with left-handed batters and usually gets worse as the game moves along, attributes which scream reliever. Whether the Red Sox go that route with the right-hander or give him another shot to start in 2024 isn't clear, and unless he's used as the closer (unlikely) he's probably not going to have much fantasy value in either role.
Houck was a stabilizing presence for a Red Sox bullpen that desperately needed one in 2022, as his already flexible role expanded even further to include shorter high-leverage outings and save opportunities. With Boston struggling to hold leads in the late innings, the 26-year-old received his first save chance in June and recorded six within a two-week span. Houck tied for the team lead with eight saves, but his season ended prematurely due to a disc issue in his back that required surgery. He finished with 60 innings across 32 appearances (four starts) with similar outputs to 2021, though his K-rate dipped nearly eight percentage points, from 30.5% to 22.7%. Houck expects to be cleared for the start of spring training and will spend this offseason building up to be a starter, but the Red Sox informed him he may end up back in the bullpen once the 2023 season starts. Kenley Jansen's arrival in free agency renders Houck much less relevant unless he actually makes the rotation or Jansen gets injured.
With Eduardo Rodriguez dealing with a sore arm to open the season, Houck broke camp with the Red Sox but was sent to the alternate site once Rodriguez was ready in mid-April. After dealing with a sore flexor muscle until mid-June, he spent the second half shuttling between Triple-A Worcester and the big club. While with the Red Sox, Houck made 18 appearances, starting five contests. Featuring an arsenal compared to a right-handed Chris Sale, Houck posted an impressive 3.52 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, buoyed by a 23.2% K-BB% which would have placed eighth among qualified starters, but he only tallied 69 frames, about 100 fewer than needed to make the leaderboard. If Houck can develop another secondary to complement his 94-mph fastball, wipeout slider and occasional splitter, he has ace potential. He should get a chance to prove himself as a member of Boston's starting rotation to begin the regular season.
Few prospects covered more developmental ground at their team's alternate training site than Houck, who cleaned up his crossfire delivery to the point that he may be able to stick in the rotation. His gains were rewarded with a three-start run to close the year, during which he dominated the Braves, Yankees and Marlins. He utilizes a four-seamer and a sinking two-seamer, both of which sit in the low-90s and touch 95 mph. Houck threw his wipeout mid-80s slider 94 times (35% usage), recording 10 strikeouts with the pitch while surrendering zero hits. Houck's fastball/slider combo is effective enough that he might be able to get by without a viable third pitch, but the development of his splitter would go a long way toward him sticking in Boston's rotation for years to come. He should get a pretty long leash in 2021, given the Red Sox's lack of rotation depth.
The Red Sox tried to teach Houck a four-seam fastball in 2018, but it was flat, straight and ineffective, so they had him go back to using the two-seamer primarily last season. It was that pitch -- regarded as one of the best two-seam fastballs in the 2017 draft class -- that led Boston to take Houck 24th overall that year. With the change back to a more familiar approach, Houck was able to advance to Triple-A, and he enjoyed a good deal of success out of the bullpen with Pawtucket, holding opponents to a .202 average in his 25 innings with the top affiliate. He allowed just a 12.5% line-drive rate at Triple-A. His walk rate spiked with the jump in levels and the strikeout rates have been modest so far in his professional career, but Houck is now a step away and could theoretically rise fast up the ranks in Boston's largely unsettled bullpen.
More Fantasy News
Earns win in efficient outing
PBoston Red Sox
September 23, 2024
Houck (9-10) earned the win Monday, allowing one hit and one walk across five scoreless innings against the Blue Jays. He did not record a strikeout.
ANALYSIS
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Limited to four frames Wednesday
PBoston Red Sox
September 18, 2024
Houck allowed one run on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
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Cleared to start Wednesday
PBoston Red Sox
September 18, 2024
Red Sox manager Alex Cora confirmed that Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday against the Rays, MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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On track to start Wednesday
PBoston Red Sox
Shoulder
September 17, 2024
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that there's a "big chance" Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Scratched from start
PBoston Red Sox
Shoulder
September 13, 2024
Houck was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees due to right shoulder fatigue, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Had extension talks last year
PBoston Red Sox
February 22, 2023
Houck confirmed Wednesday to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com that he engaged in long-term extension talks with the Red Sox last year.
ANALYSIS
Those discussions ultimately fell flat, but Houck expressed an openness to trying again at some point in the near future. "If the opportunity on both sides is right, I'd be willing to," said the 26-year-old right-hander. "But both sides have to feel comfortable with an agreement." Houck is currently under team control with the Red Sox all the way through the 2027 season. He's vying for a spot in the Opening Day rotation this spring.
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