Boston Red Sox Place Closer On 15-Day IL

The Boston Red Sox' season continues to spiral downward. Another blow to their pitching staff, as closer Tanner Houck has landed on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation.

I can’t even fathom how the #RedSox bullpen will survive without Tanner Houck for the next couple of weeks.#DirtyWater| #MLB
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) August 10, 2022

And indeed, the loss was immediately felt, as Boston lost a tough one in extra innings, 9-7 to the Atlanta Braves. The Sox were, essentially, one good reliever short in the late innings.

Houck has actually not pitched since going back-to-back games on Aug. 1-2, so the back must have been acting up over the past week. He has 8 saves and a 3.15 ERA this season. He was apparently being somewhat secretive about this latest injury.

#RedSox: RHP Tanner Houck on the 15-day injured list due to lower back inflammation, retroactive to August 6.

Saw Houck with his back wrapped up in KC on Sunday. Asked him about it and he said it was "maintenance." Apparently not.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 9, 2022

Beat writer Pete Abraham asked him on the weekend why his back was wrapped up and Houck told him it was "maintenance." It was apparently more than that.

RHP Kaleb Ort was called up from Triple-A to fill his spot in the bullpen, though it was he who came on in the 10th and 11th and gave up the three Braves runs over 1.2 innings that would lose the game. He now has a 9.00 ERA through 14 innings with the Red Sox this season.

Garrett Whitlock and John Schreiber are the likely candidates to close games for the BoSox in Houck's absence.

Photo: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports