The Houston Astros got just two starts out of starting pitcher Luis Garcia after he spent more than two years returning from Tommy John surgery.
Garcia returned on Sept. 1, and delivered a quality start. The Astros' starter gave up three runs across six innings and struck out six batters. Then, Garcia left with an injury after 1.2 innings on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Wednesday, the Astros placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow injury, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. However, will Garcia's injury open the door for another young arm in Houston?
Astros Lose Garcia Again
In his first three years in the MLB, Garcia developed into a strong, reliable starter for the Astros. The young right-hander averaged a 3.37 ERA in his first three years, and then had to undergo Tommy John surgery after just six starts in 2023.
It took Garcia more than two years to return to the mound for the Astros, and now after two more starts, he'll be out again. The word from Houston is a right elbow injury, which is never a good sign for a pitcher.
"I feel for him like he’s my son," Astros' manager Joe Espada said before Wednesday’s game (h/t The Athletic). "This guy has worked extremely hard. That’s the call as a manager you never want to get — be called to the mound or to the field because there’s something wrong. It’s tough. Hopefully, we get him back and he can work his way back, but that was a very tough conversation."
Luis Garcia motioned to the dugout after feeling something after this pitch and was removed from the game
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 10, 2025
It was just his second start after missing more than two years with Tommy John Surgery pic.twitter.com/VA1Q4fTPHh
This came as the second blow to the Astros' starting rotation in the last week. Spencer Arrighetti was placed on the IL last Wednesday with right elbow inflammation.
Arrighetti's and Garcia's injuries add to pitchers Hayden Wesneski, Ronel Blanco and Brandon Walter, who the Astros were already without due to elbow injuries.
However, throughout Houston's injury bug, it could pave the way for another young starter to take advantage of an opportunity.
Right-handed pitcher AJ Blubaugh came in for relief of Garcia on Tuesday night and pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. The 25-year-old has only appeared in seven games this season, but holds an impressive 2.57 ERA across 21 innings and has 25 strikeouts.
AJ Blubaugh introduced himself to the Blue Jays with a healthy dose of fastballs to stump their batters over 3.1 scoreless innings
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) September 10, 2025
He has the tools to be a key piece for the Astros in their playoff run pic.twitter.com/4PWqELjdbq
"We were excited about the future with him, but now looking ahead for years, it’s a tough one. He can start. He can come out of the (bullpen) — his stuff plays up out of the pen," Espada said (h/t The Athletic). "He’s not afraid to come after hitters. He showed that yesterday against a really good Blue Jays lineup. It’s tough because he can do a lot of things for a club."
That's a good problem for the Astros to have. Blubaugh has made one start on the year and his other six appearances have been out of the bullpen.
Houston has two experienced starters pitching out of the bullpen since their return from injury in Lance McCullers Jr. and J.P. France. Either guy is an option to fill Garcia's rotation spot, but Blubaugh could be another option.
With Blubaugh pitching on the same day as Garcia, it makes sense for him to start on Garcia's next rotation day. Regardless, the Astros will have to find another starter to fill the void left by Garcia.