Tanner Houck was the Red Sox’ top starting pitcher last year. The 28-year-old righty made the 2024 AL All-Star team and posted a 3.12 ERA in 30 starts.

But manager Alex Cora picked top offseason acquisition Garrett Crochet to be the 2025 Opening Day starter.

Houck, who will start the second game of the season, made the decision easy for Cora.

“Talked to Tanner. He was our best starter last year. He was an All-Star,” Cora said Saturday. “He just said, ‘Give me the ball whenever.’”

Houck confirmed that was his message to the manager.

“ I think my entire career I’ve always been that way,” Houck said here Monday at JetBlue Park after his Grapefruit League start against the Orioles. “Just give me the ball. That’s all I want to do. This is what I love to do. I’ve never worked a day in my life because I get to get to go out there and throw a ball for a living. I’m not going to be picky by any means. Give me a ball every five days and I won’t complain otherwise.”

Houck allowed two unearned runs, six hits and no walks while striking out three in 4 ⅓ innings against Baltimore.

“Felt like I was in the zone more (than last start),” Houck said. “Stuck to my strengths. Left a few balls too middle. That’s where the hard contact comes from. But it’s just part of getting ramped up. Glad to get back out there and get into the fifth inning today. Right around that 70-pitch mark.”

He finished at 72 pitches (46 for strikes).

Houck will make one more start during spring training, then pitch the second game against Texas at Globe Life Field on March 28.

He wants to be in the 85-90 pitch count range for his final Grapefruit League start, which likely will be Saturday.

“I think for me it’s getting in the zone,” Houck said. “Strike one. I felt like I fell behind a little bit too much today but was able to battle back. But with that being said, I think it’s more just checking the boxes of getting to that 70-, 80-, 90-pitch range, five to six innings each time. And then when the lights turn out, go all out.”