Astros righty Luis Garcia departed tonight’s win over the Giants after just eight pitches. The club later announced he was dealing with soreness in his throwing elbow.
After the game, manager Dusty Baker told the team’s beat that Garcia was headed for an MRI (via Mark Berman of Fox 26). The skipper called the removal precautionary, though it’s still cause for some concern until the imaging results come back. Garcia met with the media as well, explaining that while he didn’t hear a pop in the elbow, he experienced enough pain he wouldn’t have been able to continue pitching (video provided by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com).
Even if Garcia is able to avoid anything especially serious, any kind of absence comes at an inopportune time for Houston. The Astros just lost José Urquidy to the injured list this afternoon. He’d left yesterday’s outing with shoulder discomfort and seems to be in for a notable stint on the shelf. Baker told reporters tonight that Urquidy’s MRI revealed inflammation and necessitates a complete shutdown from throwing for an unannounced period of time (via Chandler Rome of the Athletic). Baker said only that Urquidy would be out “for a while.”
Garcia is arguably even more integral to Houston’s staff. The 26-year-old has allowed an even four earned runs per nine over 27 innings this season. He’s fanned 27% of opposing hitters against an 8.7% walk rate. Garcia started 28 games in each of the previous two seasons, tallying 155+ frames with an upper-3.00s ERA in both.
With Urquidy and Lance McCullers Jr. out and Garcia’s status now up in the air, Houston is down to Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown as rotation locks. The Astros recalled Brandon Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land to take Urquidy’s roster spot. He filled in with 75 pitches over four innings in unexpected relief of Garcia today and could step into a rotation role over the longer haul.
J.P. France and Forrest Whitley, neither of whom has pitched in the majors, are on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Sugar Land. Bryan Garcia is also with the Space Cowboys and started four MLB games for the Tigers last year. He’s off to a rough few weeks in the minors and does not hold a 40-man spot.
Wow. Wow! WOW!
Tommy John.
Say it don’t spray it
Spay it. Don’t slay it.
E ROD TO THE RESCUE…..Time for Harris to strike while the Astros are hot for help.
Opt out after this season so they wont get much for him.
Another injury to the Astro staff. No goodie. If only the training staff had the cheat code to health and wellness. Hopefully better tidings ahead for this proud franchise, which could use a break or three
Remember that Simpsons episode where Homer cured peoples’ spines with a trash can. Houston may need that.
I don’t follow the Astros hardcore, but it seems like Lance McCullers is hurt all the time.
Yep.
Time to revisit the trash cans
Give it up! Are you still holding a grudge against the 1920 Black Sox?
1919
Yeah . Too soon! Think of the trauma! Diswraught boys and girls! Kittens and poodles! Say it ain’t so Bregman!
Another WBC pitcher bites the dust
And they’ll still whoop up on the Yankees!
Time for the Guardians to trade Shane Bieber and Wil Brennan for Kyle Tucker and Gabe Spier
And why would Cleveland do that? The Twins are not exactly a juggernaut and are leaking oil themselves?
Time to call the White Sox.
Yes, sadly it’s time to get the word out. Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Mike Clevinger are definitely going to be shopped around.
Unless the Sox themselves hoist themselves up to an 82 win pace- enough to claim the hapless AL Central
I wish I could say they have a shot, but man they’ve been hard to watch. I guess let’s see what happens with Tim coming does to the lineup. Very little hope at this point.
Considering Houston got Osuna when he had his scandal, won’t surprise me if the Astros go after Clevinger.
As an Angels fan I say… this is just terrible.
While I’m not exactly happy. As an Astros fan this could have been much worse. It could have been Framber, Javier, Bryan Abreu , or Pressly.
Those are the 4 most important pitchers on this staff in my opinion.
I have been worried since I heard that nearly every important Astros pitcher was going to pitch in the WBC
The good news is there are no season ending injuries (yet) and there is enough depth to keep the team in playoff contention until people get healthy.
When it comes to Astros injuries, it’s always “discomfort.”