The Astros have placed right -handed Luis Garcia On the 15-day wounded list due to the right elbow discomfort, per Chandler Rome of athletics. Colleague -Rights Nick Hernandez has been recalled as the corresponding movement.
At the moment it is unclear how serious this elbow problem is, but it is an ominous development. Garcia has just returned from an absence of more than two years related to that elbow. He had undergone the operation of Tommy John in 2023. He tried to get back to the hill in 2024, but repeatedly made setbacks and eventually missed that entire season. Here in 2025 he was on the IL just over a week ago.
Garcia took the ball against the Angels on 1 September, his first big league match since May 2023. The start went well, because he spent three earned points about six innings. He made a second start against the Blue Jays yesterday, but his speed was noticeable. He on average 91.4 miles per hour against the angels. He was largely in the 93-94 MPH range earlier in his career, but that decrease was not necessarily a flag. Jugs sometimes come back before they returned to 100% strength and Garcia had spoken about his conviction that there would be more speed. Instead, his Fastballvelo fell to 90.2 MPH against Toronto. In the second inning, he called on the training staff to the hill and was quickly removed from the game.
Time will learn whether this is a small setback or something more serious. The fact that the Astros quickly placed him on the IL does not predict well for the short term. Even a minimal stint would extend to the last days of the regular seasonal schedule. An absence of three weeks or more would push in October. It is quite possible that his season is completed, although the club will probably release more information at some point.
It is clear that an more extreme result would be terrible. At this point, another major elbow operation would jeopardize its season 2026. He has already lost most seasons 2023-2025. Another long surgical rehabilitation would give him a piece of four years, whereby every season is completely or partially lost.
During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Garcia threw 312 2/3 innings with a 3.60 run average earned, 25.4% strikeout percentage and 7.6% walking speed. He also made seven postsease appearances in that period and helped the club to win the World Series 2022. Since then, as said, he has hardly been on the hill.
The absences are cut into his earning capacity. He qualified for the first time for arbitration in 2024 and earned $ 1,875 mm that year. After missing that entire campaign, he agreed with the same salary for 2025. Next year his last ARB year would be before he is planned for a free agency. Given his very limited workload this year, in 2026 he has to stand in line for the same salary effectively. That is hardly above the competition minimum and a great price for Houston if they think he can get healthy. But if he is planned for a new long absence, he would become a clear non-tender candidate.
For the Astros this contributes to their injury stack for the stretchrun. They have already lost White ronel” Hayden Wesneski And Brandon Walter to seasonal operations. Spencer Arrighetti Is on the il because of elbow inflammation and go for a second opinion. In the Bullpen, Josh Hader” John Rooney” Caleb Ort And Bennett Sousa are all on the il. The position -player group is without Isaac Paredes And others.
Despite all those injuries, the Astros cling to a narrow division lead. The still are on top of the American League West, but the Mariners are only one match back with the Rangers only 2.5 games behind. The Astros still have a very good chance of making the late season, but every new injury will make it more challenging to maintain.
Their rotation now consists of Hunter Brown” Framber Valdez” Jason Alexander And Cristian Javier. They have Lance McCullers Jr. And JP France In the bullpen and one of them could place in the rotation, although neither has a great year. Colton Gordon Is on the schedule of 40 men, but was just chosen four days ago. He can only be remembered 15 days after that optioning, unless he immediately replaces a player who goes on the IL. Non-Roster Options in Triple-A Including Miguel Ullola” Ethan Pecko And Jose Fleury.
Photo thanks to Erik Williams, imagn Images
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