FORT MYERS, Fla. – On Oct. 26, 2018, Tanner Houck watched his organization play what would end up being the longest game in World Series history.

He was 22 then, a top prospect coming off his first full season in the Red Sox farm system, still two years away from the show.

From his mother’s home in Illinois Houck watched the Boston bats get shut out for the first seven innings by a Dodgers starting pitcher who walked off the mound having struck out seven, with zero walks and just two hits. It was a masterful performance, especially for a rookie making his first World Series start, but it didn’t surprise Houck.

He was already very familiar with Walker Buehler’s game.

“I pitched against Walker when he was in college (at Vanderbilt),” Houck told the Herald. “We came across each other when I was a freshman at Mizzou and he was a junior. Actually, the same year I ran across (Alex) Bregman as well. I always knew that their pedigree was unmatched in terms of talent and the ability to go out there and play the game.”

Houck couldn’t overstate how much value Buehler adds to the rotation, especially if the Red Sox make it back to the postseason this year. Buehler’s 19 career postseason outings are the most of any starter on the roster by far; in fact, it’s more than the rest of them combined. Forget his two championship rings, he’s the only one with any World Series experience at all.

“I remember watching him, in ‘18, go out there as a rookie and do his thing.” Houck said. “I always knew that he had the ability to do it and now that he’s on our side I’m excited to see it even more on a day-to-day level, because I think he has the type of ability to go out there and not just change a game, but change the season, just with his ability to go out there and compete and with all of his arsenal as well. He’s a very tough out.”

He sees Buehler as a perfect fit, not only for the team, but for its fans.

“I think every hitter would agree that Walker is a problem whenever he’s on the mound. His ability, elite-level fastball top of the zone, and then he’s got the cutter, curveball, sweeper, changeup. He’s got a lot coming at you,” Houck explained, “and he’s constantly on the prowl whenever he’s on the mound. To add that grittiness, that toughness that I think Boston fans love, just adds even more toughness to this team than we already had.”

A few days after that World Series game, Houck watched Chris Sale, who would become a teammate, mentor, and friend in the coming years, take the mound for the ninth inning of Game 5 and close out the championship for Boston. Buehler is coming off a nearly identical performance: Game 5, enemy turf, a strikeout on the third and final batter for ultimate prize.

That Buehler’s performance happened to be against the Yankees, Boston’s greatest foe, should only elevate the rivalry this season.

“I love the rivalries in our sport,” Houck said. “I think that’s what continues to bring fans back, what brings new fans into the game. It’s another day of showing up and getting ready to work, but it adds blood boiling in your system.”