Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora dropped an important piece of news seemingly out of nowhere after
Tuesday’s 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
The skipper answered a season-long question: who will fill the incredibly important “Garrett Whitlock role” this season?
“We’re going to use (Tanner Houck) in high-leverage situations,” Cora said, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “We’re trying to avoid four-inning, three-inning stints, maximum he’ll do two. Kind of like the way we used Garrett last year.
“The way he threw the ball… he’s been throwing the ball great for us and obviously, with traffic he did an outstanding job.”
Houck got the win Tuesday, he pitched the eighth and ninth inning against the Halos and allowed one double, one walk and struck out three.
Based on Cora’s comments, fans can expect to see the right-hander more frequently, as he is no longer simply coming in relief for Rich Hill on piggyback starts. Whitlock was able to toe the rubber multiple times a week for multi-inning appearances. It’s likely that Houck will do that same.