{"id":75613,"date":"2024-06-03T16:51:41","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T20:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=75613"},"modified":"2024-06-03T16:51:41","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T20:51:41","slug":"tanner-houck-cy-young-contender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/03\/tanner-houck-cy-young-contender\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Sox Starter Is Cy Young Contender"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tanner Houck<\/a> is currently making his 2024 season look easy. Twelve starts in, the right-hander is pitching like one of the best in baseball. But you couldn\u2019t always say that about Houck. He\u2019s had a bumpy road towards his pure domination this season. Mishaps and inconsistent playing time had plagued the 27-year-old\u2019s career until the current campaign. But that isn\u2019t the case right now. It\u2019s time to have a serious discussion: Tanner Houck is an AL Cy Young contender.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanner Houck\u2019s Road To 2024<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Red Sox selected Tanner Houck with the 24th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. Out of the University of Missouri, expectations were high for the St. Louis native. Houck stayed in the minors through 2019, posting decent numbers. During the shortened 2020 season, Boston selected his contract to make his MLB debut. In three starts, Houck shined, allowing just one earned run over 17 innings and claiming three wins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Houck\u2019s next two seasons featured inconsistent roles. In 2021, the righty started in 13 of his 18 appearances. Houck ended with a 3.52 ERA over 69 innings but won just one game. In 2022, he mostly came out of the bullpen, starting just four of his 32 times on the mound. Houck pitched to a 3.15 ERA in 60 innings, proving strength from the pen. After two decent campaigns, he entered 2023 looking for a solidified role.<\/span><\/p>\n

Houck found a consistent position on the field as a starter last season. But what wasn\u2019t consistent were his performances. Houck threw to a disappointing 5.01 ERA in a career-high 106 innings. His WHIP, home run rate, walk percentage, and ERA+ were all rock bottom in his MLB career. In June, Houck was hit by a comebacker<\/a> during a start against the Yankees. He suffered a facial fracture and missed over two months. Houck lasted over six innings just once in his 21 starts. Entering 2024 seemed like a make-it-or-break-it year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tanner Houck Is A 2024 AL Cy Young Contender<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you watched Tanner Houck pitch in 2024, it isn\u2019t easy to envision a 5.00+ ERA attached to his name. As of June 3, he ranks fourth in MLB for ERA<\/a> (1.85) and second in the American League, trailing only Kansas City\u2019s Seth Lugo<\/a> (1.72). Houck is also fourth in innings pitched (78) and is behind just Lugo and Seattle\u2019s Luis Castillo<\/a> (both at 78.1) for AL pitchers. After pitching a career-high in innings last season, Houck is ready to smash that number. Cy Young pitchers are durable and practical. Tanner Houck is both of those things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Houck matches up fantastically against his competitors. Only two non-batters sit in the top 10 in Major League WAR. Houck, at 2.9, is tied with teammate Jarren Duran<\/a> at 10th. Seth Lugo, at 3.2, leads all pitchers in the category. Specifically for Houck, he had just a 5.7 WAR in his career entering this season. If his current pace continues, he will eclipse that mark entirely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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the most and least valuable player at each position so far this season pic.twitter.com\/Yxjf4H7iiH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BrooksGate (@Brooks_Gate) May 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n