Tanner Houck, who has been filling in for Garrett Whitlock in the Boston Red Sox rotation since April 17 due to an oblique strain, will continue to do so for a longer period of time after Whitlock experienced soreness in his pitching elbow after a start on Wednesday. Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced that Whitlock will be shut down temporarily to determine the extent of the injury.
This setback is concerning given Whitlock’s history of elbow injuries, including undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019 and dealing with previous IL stints last season due to various elbow issues. While awaiting a diagnosis on Whitlock’s current injury, the Red Sox will have to rely on other pitchers like Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, and Cooper Criswell to fill the void in the starting rotation.
Initially expected to return against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, Whitlock’s absence means that Tanner Houck will likely take the mound instead. Despite the injuries, the Red Sox pitching staff has managed to excel with an MLB-leading 2.79 ERA entering the upcoming games. It remains to be seen how long Whitlock will be out of the rotation and how the team will adjust in his absence.
