NEW YORK — After two months on the injured record due to a facial fracture, Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck is anticipated to pitch towards the Astros on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. He will pitch six days after throwing his final bullpen session.
It might be his first look since June 16, when Houck was belted beneath the suitable eye by a line drive off the bat of Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka firstly of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
Houck mentioned he isn’t scared, and he needed to be again on the mound the suitable approach.
“I wanted to come back 100 percent, and that way I can give the team everything I have, vs. coming back at 80 or 90 percent,” Houck mentioned. “To miss the time that I did, it was unfortunate. It was a freak accident. But the body feels great. I’m ready to get back out there.”
Houck mentioned he didn’t understand how a lot he liked the sport of baseball till he was out of fee throughout these two months. In truth, per week after the damage, Houck was itching to get again out on the mound. It didn’t really feel proper being away from the sport.
“Two months away from the game felt like a lifetime,” Houck mentioned. “I think that’s how you know you truly love something. Sixty days felt like a year. … I’m incredibly excited to be back. It relit more of a flame in me. … I want to go out there and push myself to be the best version of myself. I always had that flame, but missing time definitely reignites that flame even brighter.”
Entering Sunday’s motion, Boston sat three video games behind the Mariners for the third and last AL Wild Card spot. Houck was in a position to get a style of the playoffs in 2021 out of the bullpen, and he mentioned playoff baseball is a unique animal.
“It’s a different environment, but also knowing that it takes a full 162 games to reach that point,” Houck mentioned. “Realizing [what’s at stake], I have to get my work done every single day, 40 games left, go out there and continue and get a little bit better each day and help the team win. Come in with a smile on my face every day, good attitude, win or lose.”
Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora is blissful to get Houck again within the rotation. In 13 begins this season, Houck is 3-6 with a 5.05 ERA.
“It’s huge for us. Obviously, we have to make a move,” Cora mentioned. “Finally, pitching staff-wise, we are full force. Is it late? We don’t know. But I think we are in a good place right now.”
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