Garcia (elbow) was activated from the injured list and elected free agency Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia has been ruled out for all of 2026 while recovering from elbow surgery. He may have to wait until he makes progress in his recovery before finding a new team.

The Astros placed Garcia (elbow) on outright waivers Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia has already been ruled out for the entire 2026 campaign -- his final year of team control -- after undergoing surgery to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow in October. Having pitched just 34.2 innings over the past three seasons, the injury-prone right-hander is unlikely to be claimed by another club.

Garcia's right elbow surgery Wednesday involved a reconstruction of his UCL and repair of his flexor tendon, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros had already previously ruled Garcia out for next season, and now the team has offered more details regarding the operation on Garcia's pitching arm. It's the second time Garcia has had his UCL repaired, as he missed most of the last two seasons following Tommy John surgery. The 2026 season is the final one Garcia is under team control, so he will likely be non-tendered this offseason.

Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Garcia will undergo surgery on his right elbow and miss the 2026 season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia returned to a big-league mound this season for the first time in over two calendar years following May 2023 Tommy John surgery. He made just two starts before exiting his Sept. 9 outing against Toronto with elbow discomfort, and he will now have to wait at least another full season before getting the chance to pitch again. It remains unclear if his upcoming operation will be another Tommy John procedure.

The Astros transferred Garcia to the 60-day injured list Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow discomfort, so he will be ineligible to return in 2025 after Friday's move. Specifics regarding the right-hander's injury are unclear at this point, but he'll have a full offseason to recover. AJ Blubaugh is the leading candidate to fill Garcia's spot in the rotation the rest of the way.

The Astros placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow discomfort.

EDGE Analysis

After missing more than two seasons of big-league action while recovering from Tommy John surgery and associated complications, Garcia was activated from the injured list Sept. 1 but made just two starts for Houston before experiencing more elbow trouble. The Astros don't yet have an updated diagnosis for Garcia after he exited midway through the second inning of his start in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Toronto, but more clarity on that front should arrive once the right-hander undergoes an MRI. Even if Garcia's upcoming tests reveal no long-term concern, his history of elbow problems suggests he's unlikely to make it back from the IL before the end of the regular season. AJ Blubaugh tossed 3.1 innings of long relief after Garcia exited Tuesday's contest, so Blubaugh could be the next man up to enter the rotation when Garcia's turn comes up again Sunday in Atlanta.

Garcia was removed from his start Tuesday against the Blue Jays with right elbow discomfort, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia made it through just 1.2 innings before calling for a trainer to come take a look at him, and he was removed after a very brief discussion with the Astros' staff. More details regarding his injury won't be known until the team takes a closer look at him, though it's worth noting that the right-hander's velocity was down for the duration of his start.

Garcia is slated to make his next start Tuesday versus the Blue Jays in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

Garcia had been lined up to start this past Sunday's series finale versus the Rangers, but the Astros made a late change and instead had Framber Valdez take the hill on normal rest. Though Garcia wasn't dealing with any sort of injury, the Astros likely just wanted to build in more rest for the right-hander, who hadn't pitched in the majors since May 1, 2023 before he was activated from the 60-day injured list last week. After delivering a quality start and picking up a win over the Angels in his 2025 debut for the Astros last Monday, Garcia will draw a tougher test Tuesday in a road matchup with the Blue Jays, who sit atop the American League standings with an 82-61 record.

Garcia won't take his turn in the rotation Sunday against the Rangers, as Framber Valdez is slated to make the start instead, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

According to McTaggart , Garcia isn't dealing with an injury, but Houston wants Valdez to start the series finale instead. It's not clear if that means Garcia will pitch in Toronto on Tuesday for what had been expected to be Valdez's next turn on the mound.

Garcia (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Angels, allowing three runs on three hits and no walks over six innings with six strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

The Houston right-hander looked sharp in his return from Tommy John surgery in May 2023, tossing 79 total pitches. Garcia averaged 91.4 mph on his fastball, down 1.3 mph from his mark in 2023, but that is to be expected as the 28-year-old works his way back into game action. All three runs Garcia conceded scored on long balls in the fourth, with Zach Neto hitting a solo shot and Jo Adell cracking a two-run homer. Garcia currently lines up to make his next start at Texas this weekend.