Houston Astros reveal concerning update about critical rotation piece
Buckle up
03 April
Luis Garcia is dealing with elbow inflammation. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.
With two series in the books, the Astros season hasn't gotten off to the start that they hoped. After a series win over the Mets, Houston was swept at home by the Giants, dropping their record to 2-4.
However, the club's early struggles fall squarely on the anemic offense, not the starting pitching. Which should make this disappointing injury update easier to handle.
The Astros announced on Thursday that Luis Garcia is dealing with inflammation in his elbow, and he will be shut down from throwing for four weeks.
Luis Garcia’s second opinion showed “inflammation in his right elbow,” according to the Astros. He will be shut down and reevaluated in four weeks, the team said.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 3, 2025
It's unknown exactly how many setbacks Garcia has sustained in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but that number has to be at least two, and likely more. There were reports last year that he might be able to return before season's end, but that never materialized.
And of course we have the hiccup this spring that has him unable to throw for the next month. Garcia had surgery in May 2023, so we're almost two years out from the surgery, which typically requires a 12-18 month recovery.
This development makes the return of Lance McCullers Jr even more imperative. On the bright side, McCullers seems to be doing well in his recovery, as he's scheduled for his second rehab start this Saturday at Double-A Corpus Christi.
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José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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