The Houston Astros obtained simply two begins out of beginning pitcher Luis Garcia after he spent greater than two years coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure.
Garcia returned on Sept. 1, and delivered a high quality begin. The Astros’ starter gave up three runs throughout six innings and struck out six batters. Then, Garcia left with an harm after 1.2 innings on Tuesday towards the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Wednesday, the Astros positioned Garcia on the 15-day injured listing with a proper elbow harm, based on The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. Nonetheless, will Garcia’s harm open the door for one more younger arm in Houston?
Astros Lose Garcia Once more
In his first three years within the MLB, Garcia developed into a powerful, dependable starter for the Astros. The younger right-hander averaged a 3.37 ERA in his first three years, after which needed to endure Tommy John surgical procedure after simply six begins in 2023.
It took Garcia greater than two years to return to the mound for the Astros, and now after two extra begins, he’ll be out once more. The phrase from Houston is a proper elbow harm, which isn’t a very good signal for a pitcher.
“I really feel for him like he’s my son,” Astros’ supervisor Joe Espada mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation (h/t The Athletic). “This man has labored extraordinarily onerous. That’s the decision as a supervisor you by no means need to get — be known as to the mound or to the sector as a result of there’s one thing flawed. It’s robust. Hopefully, we get him again and he can work his manner again, however that was a really robust dialog.”
Luis Garcia motioned to the dugout after feeling one thing after this pitch and was faraway from the sport
It was simply his second begin after lacking greater than two years with Tommy John Surgical procedure pic.twitter.com/VA1Q4fTPHh
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 10, 2025
This got here because the second blow to the Astros’ beginning rotation within the final week. Spencer Arrighetti was positioned on the IL final Wednesday with proper elbow irritation.
Arrighetti’s and Garcia’s accidents add to pitchers Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco and Brandon Walter, who the Astros have been already with out as a consequence of elbow accidents.
Nonetheless, all through Houston’s harm bug, it might pave the best way for one more younger starter to make the most of a possibility.
Proper-handed pitcher AJ Blubaugh got here in for aid of Garcia on Tuesday night time and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. The 25-year-old has solely appeared in seven video games this season, however holds a formidable 2.57 ERA throughout 21 innings and has 25 strikeouts.
AJ Blubaugh launched himself to the Blue Jays with a wholesome dose of fastballs to stump their batters over 3.1 scoreless innings
He has the instruments to be a key piece for the Astros of their playoff run pic.twitter.com/4PWqELjdbq
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) September 10, 2025
“We have been excited concerning the future with him, however now wanting forward for years, it’s a tricky one. He can begin. He can come out of the (bullpen) — his stuff performs up out of the pen,” Espada mentioned (h/t The Athletic). “He’s not afraid to return after hitters. He confirmed that yesterday towards a extremely good Blue Jays lineup. It’s robust as a result of he can do quite a lot of issues for a membership.”
That is a very good downside for the Astros to have. Blubaugh has made one begin on the yr and his different six appearances have been out of the bullpen.
Houston has two skilled starters pitching out of the bullpen since their return from harm in Lance McCullers Jr. and J.P. France. Both man is an choice to fill Garcia’s rotation spot, however Blubaugh might be an alternative choice.
With Blubaugh pitching on the identical day as Garcia, it is sensible for him to start out on Garcia’s subsequent rotation day. Regardless, the Astros must discover one other starter to fill the void left by Garcia.
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