Houck had non-surgical alternatives available, including platelet-rich plasma and stem-cell treatment, to try to fix his arm. But those would have merely been “delaying the inevitable,” he said.

He pointed to both teammates Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito who have returned strong this season after undergoing arm surgeries last year. Whitlock underwent a right elbow ulnar collateral ligament repair in May 2024. Giolito underwent an internal brace procedure to repair his damaged elbow in March 2024.

It wasn’t just that the Red Sox swept the AL Central-leading Astros, it was how they did it. Friday’s walk-off win in 10 innings was the closest game as the Red Sox outscored Houston 15-4 in the next two.