Astros' middling start gets wo...

The Houston Astros haven't been winning at the level MLB is used to so far this season, and now they're losing one of their most important pitchers. Astros starter Luis Garcia will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced Friday, ending his 2023 season and likely making him unavailable for the start of 2024. The injury occurred Monday in a nationally televised game against the San Francisco Giants, with the right-hander leaving after throwing only eight pitches. The Astros placed him on the 15-day injured list the next day due to what they dubbed right elbow discomfort.  The Houston Astros haven't been winning at the level MLB is used to so far this season, and now they're losing one of their most important pitchers. Astros starter Luis Garcia will undergo Tommy John surgery, the team announced Friday, ending his 2023 season and likely making him unavailable for the start of 2024. The injury occurred Monday in a nationally televised game against the San Francisco Giants, with the right-hander leaving after throwing only eight pitches. The Astros placed him on the 15-day injured list the next day due to what they dubbed right elbow discomfort. The only remaining pitchers who have started a game for Houston this season are Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and rookie Hunter Brown, all of whom have been solid, with a combined 2.84 ERA in 114 innings. The Astros sit at 16-15 entering Friday, good for third in the AL West behind the 18-12 Texas Rangers and the 18-14 Los Angeles Angels.