The Houston Astros will be without Luis Garcia in their rotation going forward after the right-hander left Tuesday's start against the Toronto Blue Jays early with elbow pain.
Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday afternoon with right elbow discomfort, and Houston recalled right-handed reliever Nick Hernandez to take his spot on the 26-man roster.
Garcia gestured at his elbow and then motioned to the dugout after throwing an 88 m.p.h. pitch to Ernie Clement with two outs in the second. After a brief conversation on the mound, he walked off with a trainer. It was Garcia's second start after sitting out more than two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
“It was a punch to the gut," Astros manager Joe Espada said post-game. “He’s worked so hard to get back. Just to see him call us and point to his elbow, it’s tough.”
Garcia had hit the previous batter, Addison Barger, on the foot with a first-pitch curveball.
Astros infielder Carlos Correa said he was "devastated" to see Garcia leave injured.
“It’s not something you want to see,” Correa said. “He just got back with us. He looked really good in his last outing and he was looking good in this outing as well. It’s definitely something you don’t want to see.”
Garcia got the win over the Angels on Sept. 1, allowing three hits and three runs in six innings in his first start since May 1, 2023.
Hernandez, meanwhile, has thrown 6.2 innings at the MLB level this season, four runs and three homers while striking out seven. In 46.2 innings at triple-A, the 30-year-old has a 2.12 ERA and 11 saves.
You can watch as the Blue Jays and Astros take the field in Game 2 of their three-game set on Wednesday on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT.
— With files from the Associated Press
