The story of this Astros season has been the injuries. Just when you think Houston is getting healthier, another player goes down, and this time it’s a big one. Josh Hader, the All-Star, considered to be one of the best closers in the game, is now on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain, something he had felt before the game on Monday. Hader is now seeking a second opinion on this, which makes things look more ominous for the bullpen.
However, there are still two pitchers likely returning soon for the Astros, the first being Luis Garcia. The Astros starter had missed most of 2023 and all of 2024 with Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but is on track to return in late 2025 soon as long as he keeps building up during his rehab starts with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
Garcia has been ramping up his activity all summer and looks to be steadily improving, with possibly only a couple more rehab starts with the Space Cowboys left.
Luis Garcia will pitch for Triple-A Sugar Land tomorrow. Lance McCullers Jr. will pitch for the Space Cowboys on Friday.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 12, 2025
The Venezuelan righty began his rehabilitation journey with a couple successful starts in the Florida Complex League before throwing two shutout innings with the Astros single-A affiliate Fayetteville Woodpeckers and 2.1 shutout innings with the AA Corpus Christi Hooks in July.
This month, Garcia has had three starts so far with the Space Cowboys, most recently on August 13th, where he went 4.2 innings deep, the farthest he has gone in a rehab game so far. In those 4.2 innings, Garcia gave up only one earned run and one walk along with six strikeouts, but also gave up six hits. The 77 pitches were a season high as well.
Overall, the 28-year-old has progressed well, building on each of his appearances. His first start with Sugar Land on Aug. 1 was a struggle, going only 2.2 innings with three earned runs given up. On Aug. 7, there was a large improvement in his performance as Garcia threw a four-inning shutout with only three hits and seven strikeouts.
His new pitching action has some Astros fans concerned abou how Garcia can make that transition at the major league level. Despite that, it looks like Garcia is getting the hang of it and becoming more comfortable by the day. Overall in the minors, he has a 2.29 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in seven starts. With Hader's injury, Garcia’s return in the very near future will be much needed.
The Astros May Be Getting More Familiar Pitching Faces Back
Additionally, veteran Lance McCullers Jr. may be set to rejoin the Astros in the near future. LMJ suffered a right finger blister and was placed on the 15-day injured list back on July 22, but will now be making his first rehab start on Friday with the Space Cowboys. McCullers Jr is no stranger to this process, going through a rehab for his right foot sprain in June, as well as coming back from multiple injuries throughout his career.
The two-time World Series champion has had multiple injuries to his flexor tendon that has caused him to miss most of the 2022 regular season, and the 2023 and 2024 full season. The 31-year-old made his first start since the 2022 World Series on May 4, but has struggled with a 6.90 ERA in 11 starts, along with a 1.47 WHIP. McCullers has stumbled in his recent starts and will look to push the reset button in Sugar Land.
The Astros need all the pitching help they can get at this point, and either McCullers or Garcia would more than likely get moved to the bullpen with the abundance of starting pitchers. Look for even J.P. France to eventually come back down the road as well.