Tanner Houck allowed four hits and one run with four strikeouts across four innings in a no-decision on Wednesday against the Rays.
This was an odd start for Houck. The Red Sox are obviously trying to limit his workload as he’s already thrown a career-high innings and has struggled when pitching deeper into games over the last few months. So, he was pulled after 60 pitches and just two times around the lineup. In this short outing, he limited the usage of his sinker against left-handed batters and threw more sweepers and splitters earlier in counts than he has otherwise this season. He’s scheduled to face the Blue Jays in Toronto next time out, but it’s unlikely he pitches deep in that game.