2025 Fantasy Baseball: Houch Tuah
Overview
Tanner Houck's start on April 14, 2025, against the Tampa Bay Rays marked one of the most disappointing outings in baseball this season. Following a promising 2024 campaign (3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 154 strikeouts over 178.2 innings), Houck's double-start week had positioned him as a viable spot-starter in 12-team fantasy leagues and a near must-play in deeper formats. However, his performance last night has sparked significant discussion among fantasy managers.
Recent Performance Context
Houck's 2025 season had already shown inconsistency:
First Two Starts: Struggled, allowing seven runs, 17 baserunners, and three home runs over 9.2 innings, with eight strikeouts.
April 9 vs. Blue Jays: Rebounded, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing one run and seven baserunners with two strikeouts.
Game Breakdown: April 14 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Last night's game unraveled quickly for Houck:
First Inning: Started disastrously with his first pitch resulting in a home run. He then retired three batters via a lineout and two groundouts.
Second Inning: Allowed two infield singles, followed by another home run and a walk. With two outs, Brandon Lowe hit an opposite-field single, driving in two runs.
Third Inning: The wheels came off. Jonathan Aranda led with a ground ball single up the middle, just out of reach of the second baseman. Christopher Morel added a seeing-eye single, and Kameron Misner reached on an infield single off the second baseman’s glove. With bases loaded, Taylor Walls hit a slow grounder preventing a double play. Danny Jansen’s grounder led to a throwing error by Alex Bregman. Two more outfield singles followed, and after walking Brandon Lowe, Houck was pulled. The bullpen allowed all three inherited runners to score.
Final Line
Innings Pitched: 2.1
Hits: 10
Runs: 12 (11 earned)
Walks: 2
Strikeouts: 1
Home Runs: 2
Fantasy Impact
This outing has immediate repercussions for fantasy baseball:
12-Team Leagues: Houck is likely to be dropped due to his inflated 9.16 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over four starts.
15-Team Leagues: Many managers may seek replacements, though some may hold based on his potential.
Silver Linings
Despite the poor stat line, there are reasons for optimism:
Hit Types: Half of the 10 hits were ground balls close to being outs; eight were singles.
Velocity: His four-seamer (96.4 mph) and sinker (95.1 mph) maintained strong velocity.
Context: Home runs (five over 18.2 innings) have been an issue, but his overall profile remains promising.
Analysis and Recommendation
Houck’s 2025 start has been rocky, with home runs inflating his ERA. However, his 2024 success and last night’s velocity suggest he’s not far from turning things around. An off night is tolerable if a pitcher can deliver five innings or more with five or six runs allowed, but Houck’s early exit was costly and requires time to correct.
Hold or Add: In 15-team leagues, hold Houck or grab him off waivers, as his arm talent and pitch movement remain intact.
Watch List: In shallower leagues, keep him on your radar. Only start him in his next double-start week if matchups are favorable, and he shows progress in his upcoming outings.
Conclusion
Tanner Houck’s April 14, 2025, performance was a low point, but it doesn’t erase his potential. Fantasy managers should weigh his underlying metrics against his current struggles, making decisions based on league depth and roster needs.