The Red Sox are getting closer to some much-needed reinforcements, and the pitching side of the roster is starting to move in the right direction.
On August 18, Boston announced that several of its longer injured list cases are nearing the finish line. Roman Anthony has started a rehab assignment, while Garrett Crochet is preparing for a possible return in a relief role. Alongside those bigger names, a few lower-profile pitchers are also making progress.
Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Kutter Crawford have all advanced to the throwing stage of their recoveries from separate injuries. Of that group, Houck is the most advanced. According to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, he has already begun facing hitters.
Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Houck is in the mix for a bullpen role once he is activated. He still has to go out on a rehab assignment, and because he underwent UCL reconstruction surgery a year ago, that process figures to be a long one. Even so, any added depth is welcome.
Oviedo has been sidelined since March 31 with an elbow strain. The day before going on the injured list, he made one start for Boston that lasted 3.2 innings and ended with four runs allowed on six hits.
Crawford is behind Oviedo in his own buildup, though he is throwing as well. He has a much longer climb ahead before a rehab assignment even becomes realistic, especially after a string of setbacks and after not pitching in a game since 2024. Still, if he can get back before the season ends, he would give Boston another arm for the bullpen.
That matters because the Red Sox have taken hits in relief recently. Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten are both out, and those losses sting. Houck looks like the only injured pitcher close enough to return soon and potentially fill one of those openings, assuming he can begin a rehab assignment within the next week or so.
Boston’s bullpen has been the best in baseball this year with a 2.93 ERA, but the workload is starting to pile up. Greg Weissert has thrown 47.1 innings, and Jovani Morán has logged 49. Houck, with Oviedo and maybe Crawford behind him if they progress quickly enough, could give that taxed group some relief over the final stretch of the season.
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