Amid discouraging Yoshida update, Red Sox receive good news on Houck's progress

BOSTON -- Masataka Yoshida’s left hamstring strain didn’t look good when it happened on Saturday night, and the results of the MRI he underwent on Monday backed up that visual.

There is a chance Yoshida will miss the rest of the regular season.

“Masa has a significant hamstring strain,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy prior to Tuesday’s game against the D-backs. “They are still going to have a couple other doctors look at it. But there’s enough knowledge at this point, looking at a significant strain is going to keep him down for a while. So I don't have a specific timetable on that. But like, it's significant enough that it's going to be pushing towards the end of the year. We’ll see what the other doctors say when they look at it as well.”

Yoshida suffered the injury while hustling out a double at PNC Park against the Pirates, stumbling before he landed on the bag.

The left-handed hitter had been taking regular DH at-bats for the Red Sox against righties for the last six weeks, and was in one of the best stretches of his four seasons in Boston.

The Red Sox do have some reinforcements on the way, including Roman Anthony, who started his Minor League rehab assignment for Double-A Portland on Tuesday.

For now, Tracy will mix and match in the DH spot against righties. Mickey Gasper started there for the second straight night on Tuesday. Jahmai Jones will continue to DH against lefties.

However, the news wasn’t all bad on the injury front. Tanner Houck continues to make strong progress from the Tommy John surgery he had a year ago, and he faced hitters for the first time on Tuesday in Fort Myers, Fla.

“Houck threw to hitters today,” said Tracy. “I think he threw 20 to 25 pitches to hitters. Went well. I think he was averaging about 93 mph, which was encouraging in a live BP setting. So we got the ball rolling there.”

For the last several weeks, Houck has been throwing a couple of 40-pitch bullpen sessions per week.

There is a possibility he could help the Red Sox at some point in September, and a Minor League rehab assignment could come soon.

“We're getting close. If you're on a mound throwing to hitters and you're throwing 25 pitches, that's a good thing,” said Tracy. “So, obviously, he still has boxes to check being that that's the first time he's thrown to hitters, and it's been a while. But checking that box is a big one. Being out on the mound and doing that, and actually, velocity being where it was and everything, it’s a good step, a really good step.”

In other words, Houck is in the picture?

“I would say that he's in the picture. I'd say if a guy gets on the mound, throws to hitters at 25 pitches, and you're doing that now, then he's definitely in the picture,” Tracy said. “We’ve just got to see how he continues as he does these other live BP sessions.”

While it’s been clear for the last week or so that ace Garrett Crochet will only be able to pitch in relief if he’s able to make it back this season, Tracy is keeping things more open-ended with Houck.

“Tanner was getting bullpen sessions up to 40 pitches, so he's definitely accumulated some volume. I think the answer to that question would depend on if he was going to go out on a rehab, when can we get him there, and how much could you get him built up?” Tracy said. “So it's hard to say, but he definitely has accumulated some volume even prior to the live BPs.”

Two years ago, Houck was an All-Star for the Red Sox. Given that Boston has two rookie pitchers who have already cleared their career high in innings in Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett, the return of Houck, even if only for a spot start or two, could be helpful.