3 weeks agoHouston Astros starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) was able to throw a successful bullpen session on Thursday. The right-hander will begin the season on the injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. The hope is that Garcia is able to contribute at some point during the summer. Before going down, Garcia was a viable option with a 3.61 ERA across 69 appearances during his MLB career. The team isn't going to rush him back to the mound considering he's coming off major surgery. He could be a factor down the road, but will probably miss at least the first month of the regular season.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart
2 months agoAccording to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Houston Astros starting pitchers
Luis Garcia (elbow) and
Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) will not be ready for Opening Day. McTaggart noted that both pitchers are throwing but will need additional time before they are cleared for major league action. Garcia was sidelined during the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. McCullers underwent surgery to repair his right flexor tendon in June 2023. Garcia posted a 3.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 157 2/3 innings during the 2022 season. McCullers held a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP through 162 innings during the same season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor their status during spring training as they will both likely contend for a spot in the rotation when they are cleared to return. While they are sidelined, newly acquired
Hayden Wesneski will likely have a spot in the rotation during the start of the season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Brian McTaggart
2 months agoAccording to Ari Alexander of KPRC2, the Houston Astros and starting pitcher
Luis Garcia (elbow) have agreed to a one-year, $1.875 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. The 28-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. However, Garcia began throwing earlier in September, suggesting he should be expected to be ready for spring training. Across a small 27-inning stint in 2023, the right-hander held a 4.00 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. However, in 2022, Garcia posted a solid 3.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP across 157 1/3 innings of work. During that season, he posted a 24.0% strikeout rate with a 36.3% hard-hit rate and a 7.8% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status leading up to Opening Day, but he should contend for a spot in the rotation if he is healthy.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Ari Alexander
6 months agoEven though Houston Astros right-hander
Luis Garcia (elbow) was ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season last month, he is throwing bullpen sessions and is set to advance to live batting practice sessions as the end of the regular season nears. Garcia suffered a setback when he experienced a sore elbow on Aug. 2, which eventually ended his return from Tommy John surgery that he had in 2023. Before needing TJ surgery, Garcia had been a workhorse for the Astros in previous seasons. Houston was hoping that they could maybe have the 27-year-old as an option in the postseason, but that won't be the case. He made just two minor-league rehab appearances this summer before being shut down. If Garcia doesn't have any more setbacks this offseason, the Venezuelan hurler could be a nice fantasy sleeper with a career 3.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in four MLB seasons in Houston.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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