Astros: Luis Garcia doesn’t get run support after effective outing

The Houston Astros offense dies off fast in their final game of a four game set with the Seattle Mariners, as they hand their second consecutive gentleman’s sweep. While being dominated with eight right-handers in the lineup, the bats of Kyle Tucker and Michael Brantley were very missed, although the only left-hander, Jason Castro, didn’t provide much help.

All around, the bats weren’t producing any run support, as Yusei Kikuchi took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Luis Garcia was granted his third loss of the season, although only allowing one run over five innings.

Luis Garcia’s record does not show how well he is pitching this season.

The Astros’ pitching staff has taken huge blows since the beginning of spring training, but as they survive on minor league arms, it is worth noting how well Garcia has played. When fully healthy, the rotation would bump Garcia to the bullpen as a long reliever, but his start to the season is proving he will be effective in both positions.

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Through five games (three starts), Garcia has gone 20 strong innings with a 2.70 ERA and 20 whiffs. Pitching record is a thing of the past, as seen in Thursday’s game. With the only run coming from a solo home run, Chas McCormick made a good attempt to rob it.

Garcia was projected by Baseball America to be the Astros’s closer by 2024, and while showing endurance now, I would hope he stays as a possible starter. The right-hander only went five innings on Thursday, and that is in part to his three day rest from a 26-pitch relief appearance.

While taking the start from the injured Jake Odorizzi, Garcia is projected to take his second turn in the rotation on a full five days rest against the New York Yankees.

The Astros are 6-2 in their past homestand and will begin their road trip in Tampa on Friday at 6:10 p.m. As Yordan Alvarez is starting to feel better, the left-hander could be back in the lineup as soon as Friday or sometime this weekend. This move will most likely send Taylor Jones back down to the alternate training site, before the start of the minor league season. Here are the probable starters for the road trip: