WASHINGTON — Despite turning in his most impressive rehab start to date Friday in Portland, Red Sox righty Tanner Houck isn’t on the verge of re-entering Boston’s rotation.
Houck, who threw five shutout innings for the Sea Dogs on the Fourth of July, will make another rehab appearance (his fourth) in the upcoming days, according to manager Alex Cora, and will likely have his return to the big leagues delayed until after the All-Star break.
“He’ll make another one. We know that,” Cora said. “But we’ll see where we’re at, what kind of progress we made and attack the next one with another plan.”
Houck posted a 12.79 ERA in two rehab outings at Triple-A Worcester before heading to Maine for Friday’s start. Facing New Hampshire, he allowed just three hits (all singles) while striking out four. Houck didn’t issue a walk after giving out four free passes in 6 ⅓ combined innings for the WooSox.
Houck threw 75 pitches, including 46 strikes. He has been out since mid-May with a right flexor pronator strain after posting a brutal 8.04 ERA in his first nine starts of 2025.
“I think strike-throwing was good early. It wasn’t late,“ Cora said. ”He went deep into the game, which is important. We were talking a little bit today. Bails (Andrew Bailey) is going to take a look at it and see what we have.“
Houck would be in line to pitch on regular rest Wednesday, potentially with the Sea Dogs at home against Hartford or with Worcester on the road in Rochester. If that’s his last rehab outing, Houck could return to the big leagues after the All-Star break (July 14-17).
“Let’s see how he bounces back,“ Cora said. ”He’ll make his next one, let’s see how he feels. Obviously, it’s a tricky situation with the All-Star break. Nobody’s playing around that time. There’s no minor league baseball either. We’ll talk about it and decide what we do.”
Dobbins goes Saturday
Righty Hunter Dobbins (right elbow strain) will make a rehab start at Portland on Saturday night. Cora said it would “probably” be Dobbins’ only rehab outing, meaning the rookie might rejoin the Red Sox at the end of their homestand next week.
Cora said the Sox don’t envision using a six-man rotation before the break so Dobbins could take the spot of Richard Fitts, who is slated to pitch Monday (before Dobbins is ready) but might be replaced next weekend.
Bregman progressing
“He ran, he hit, he took grounders. I think he’s going to go see the (Savannah) Bananas, so he’s in a good place,” Cora laughed. “We’ll talk about it but nothing imminent yet. There’s not a day (set for him to return). Let’s see how he reacts from this one today. It was pretty heavy as far as the workload.”
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