If the Boston Red Sox are going to take a step forward and make the postseason in 2025, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler have to do their part in the starting rotation.
Both starters dealt with hard contact against them in their opening two starts of the season. Home runs spiraled at times at key moments in those outings and left Houck and Buehler in need of adjustments for their respective third starts.
Boston will want to forget most of the series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, though the final two games marked encouraging outings for Houck and Buehler.
The Red Sox could not get the win for Houck, though he tossed 6 2/3 innings with just one earned run on five hits. He kept the ball in the ballpark and did a better job attacking with his arsenal.
Boston did get the win in walk-off fashion Thursday after Buehler set the tone on the bump. The right-hander efficiently worked into the seventh inning on just 89 pitches and struck out seven Blue Jays in a one-run outing of his own.
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The Red Sox have a chance to build on momentum with an upcoming stretch of opponents. Houck and Buehler have their respective chances to keep building after they turned a corner in start No. 3 in 2025.
Featured image via Eric Canha/Imagn Images
