Where Tanner Houck begins the season remains somewhat of a mystery. But we do know this: He won't be coming out of the bullpen.
In his morning meeting with the media Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora definitively said Houck will be a starter.
Houck, who was scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League outing Wednesday, had experience preparing as a relief pitcher, filling the role with Triple-A Pawtucket for 16 games in 2019.
Houck struggled in his first spring training outing, walking five while allowing three runs in just 2/3 innings.
With the righty remaining in the role as a starter the strong likelihood is that he will begin the season with Triple-A Worcester with Nick Pivetta currently slotted into the Red Sox' final rotation spot.
Besides Pivetta, other members of the Red Sox starting rotation currently include Eduardo Rodriguez, Garrett Richards, Martin Perez and Nathan Eovaldi. (The group is currently lined in that order according to the spring training schedule.)
