Alex Cora gives Red Sox injury updates on Tanner Houck, Masataka Yoshida, others

Righty Tanner Houck (right flexor pronator strain) struggled again for Triple-A Worcester in his second rehab start Sunday.

The Red Sox had him work out of the bullpen following an opener, thinking a change of scenery might help get him back on track. But he allowed four runs on seven hits (two homers) and one walk while striking out three in 3 ⅔ innings.

“He was OK. A lot of pitches in the middle of the zone,” manager Alex Cora said before Boston’s game against the Reds on Monday. “Command wasn’t great. So we’ve just gotta keep working.”

Houck threw 42 of his 65 pitches (64.6%) for strikes.

He went to his sinker 17 times, topping out at 95.7 mph and averaging 93.6 mph. That’s down from his 94.5 mph sinker average in the majors this year. His eight four-seamers averaged 93.0 mph, down from his 95 mph average for Boston this season.

He has struggled in both his rehab starts after posting an 8.04 ERA (43 ⅔ innings, 39 earned runs) in nine starts for Boston to begin the season.

~ Masataka Yoshida will begin a rehab assignment with Worcester on Tuesday. Yoshida is expected to serve as the DH in his first two rehab games, then likely will play the outfield, Cora said. Worcester will head to Syracuse on Friday. And so Yoshida might join Double-A Portland, who will be at home, over the weekend to rehab there.

~ Hunter Dobbins (right elbow strain) threw a bullpen session Monday here at Fenway. “If everything goes well, he might go on a rehab assignment over the weekend and let’s see what happens after that,” Cora said.

Dobbins likely will need just one rehab start.

~ Zack Kelly left Boston’s 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday in the top of the sixth inning due to right oblique tightness. It initially appeared like Kelly would be placed on the IL. But Boston optioned him to Worcester to make room on the active roster for Jordan Hicks earlier today.

Asked if Kelly was OK on Monday before the Red Sox optioned him, Cora said, “Yeah, yeah. He is.”

~ Alex Bregman (right quad strain) ran Monday and “feels great,” Cora said. Could a rehab assignment begin in the next week? “I guess they do tests to see where we’re at and then decide what to do after that. But the way he’s talking about it. He’s close to being 100%.”

Bregman told reporters here Monday today was the best he’s felt during the rehab and didn’t rule out a return before the All-Star Break.