Red Sox cut starter (shoulder), replace him with rookie 55 minutes before game

NEW YORK — Less than 24 hours after the Red Sox announced that Tanner Houck's shoulder felt good enough to play as scheduled against the Yankees on Friday night, they took the All-Star right-hander off the roster just 55 minutes before first pitch.

Instead, rookie Richard Fitts will start when the Sox and Yankees meet at 7:05 p.m. ET. According to the Red Sox, Houck was left off the roster because of fatigue in his right shoulder.

Houck last pitched against the Mets on Sept. 4, then was pushed back a few days and did not play Sunday against the White Sox because his shoulder had not recovered well after his last outing. Because of this, the Red Sox kept Fitts on the major league roster as a backup plan in case Houck was unable to pitch. In the hours before Houck's start, something changed and Fitts is now being used as an emergency pitcher.

The Red Sox are looking to get back on track after losing 1-2 in 10 innings on Thursday night. Their offense lost 0 of 11 points despite having runners in scoring position.

Here is the lineup for Friday:

1. CF Jarren Duran

2. 3B Rafael Devers

3. LF Tyler O'Neill

4. DH Masataka Yoshida

5. C Connor Wong

6. RF Wilyer Abreu

7. 1B Triston Casas

8. SS Trevor History

9. 2B Ceddanne Rafaela

More to follow.