Tanner Houck Is Coming Undone — And Everyone’s Watching
There’s no spinning it: Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck is unraveling in real time.
On Monday night, the right-hander made the wrong kind of franchise history, giving up 11 earned runs in just 2.1 innings in a blowout loss to the Detroit Tigers. It was his second collapse of the season — the first came in April, when the Rays tagged him for 12 runs (11 earned). With that, Houck became the first Red Sox pitcher since integration to allow 10 or more earned runs in multiple games in a single season.
And it’s only May.
From All-Star to Alarming
A year ago, Houck was in the midst of a breakout campaign, sporting a 2.17 ERA and earning his first All-Star selection. He wrapped the season with a strong 3.12 ERA and looked like a cornerstone for Boston’s rotation.
Now, he’s sitting on an 8.04 ERA. He’s allowed 39 earned runs over just 43.2 innings and appears completely lost.
“Probably the most lost I’ve ever been,” Houck said after Monday’s game, clearly shaken. “Just not getting the job done, which weighs on me heavily.”
His pitches aren’t the only thing missing — his confidence has vanished. And in Boston, that’s a tough thing to lose.
No Numbers Can Disguise This
Red Sox fans have seen plenty of pitching struggles, but Houck’s downturn is entering historic territory. Only two other pitchers in team history — Win Kellum (1901) and Wes Ferrell (1936) — have allowed 10+ earned runs in multiple starts in a single season. Houck now joins that infamous list.
He failed to escape the third inning in both implosions. Against Detroit, he gave up nine runs in one frame, punctuated by a chaotic “Little League home run” from Riley Greene that was worsened by a defensive miscue.
This isn’t about pitch selection or mechanics anymore. It’s a pitcher mentally unraveling under the spotlight.
Boston Doesn’t Have Patience for This
In another city, Houck might have the benefit of time to figure things out. Boston is not that city.
Every start is under a microscope. Every mistake echoes through Fenway Park and into every corner of New England sports media. In this market, a struggling pitcher isn’t just a slump — it’s a referendum on the franchise. And Houck’s season, defined now by two catastrophic outings, is impossible to ignore.
Manager Alex Cora didn’t commit to any changes after the game, but his words were telling.
“We’ll have to take a look at it and see what we do,” Cora said. “There were a lot of pitches in the middle of the zone.”
Translation: this can’t continue.
The Mental Weight of Collapse
Houck’s postgame comments provided a rare window into the psychological toll this kind of failure can inflict. He didn’t deflect. He didn’t dodge. He owned it — and wore it.
And in many ways, that’s more painful than the numbers. This isn’t just a guy putting up bad stats. This is a pitcher who knows he’s failing — and feels powerless to stop it.
This isn’t just about keeping Houck in the rotation. It’s about whether he can mentally rebound, and rediscover the dominant version of himself that seemed so promising just last year.
What Happens Now?
The Red Sox face a difficult decision. Do they skip Houck’s next start? Move him to the bullpen? Place him on the injured list — real or otherwise? One thing is clear: they can’t stand pat.
Tanner Houck may not be broken. But he’s close. And unless the Red Sox intervene soon, they risk losing him for good.
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