Astros place RHP Luis Garcia (elbow) back on IL

Two starts into his return from Tommy John surgery, Luis Garcia is back on the injured list.

The Houston Astros made the move Wednesday, a day after the right-hander exited in the second inning of his start against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

Garcia left the club to head back to Houston for additional testing, according to manager Joe Espada.

"I feel for him like he's my son," Espada said. "This guy has worked extremely hard. That's the call as a manager you never want to get -- be called to the mound or to the field because there's something wrong. It's tough. Hopefully, we get him back and he can work his way back, but that was a very tough conversation."

Garcia, 28, had his pitching elbow reconstructed in May 2023, then endured a lengthy rehab.

He finally got back to the majors on Sept. 1, when he beat the visiting Los Angeles Angels 8-3 after throwing six innings of three-run ball. He permitted three hits and two home runs while striking out six and walking none in 79 pitches.

Against the Blue Jays, Garcia threw 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings before exiting. He yielded one walk, struck out one and hit a batter with a pitch.

In parts of five major league seasons, all with the Astros, Garcia has a career 29-19 record with a 3.60 ERA in 71 games (65 starts).

The Astros replaced Garcia on the roster by recalling Nick Hernandez from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Hernandez, 30, has no decisions and a 5.40 ERA in five relief outings for Houston this year. He went 4-5 with 11 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 46 appearances for Sugar Land in 2025.

--Field Level Media