Aug 14, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eight inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Immediately after announcing that veteran right-hander Justin Verlander would return to the rotation for the first time in more than two months to start the Wednesday finale of a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox, Astros manager Joe Espada on Monday closed the book on another potential return.
Right-hander Luis Garcia, 15 months following his Tommy John surgery, will not come back this year.
Garcia appeared poised to rejoin the active roster following a rehab start last month but was subsequently shut down after experiencing elbow soreness. Garcia underwent UCL surgery in May 2023, and like right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery), ran out of time in pursuit of a spot on the staff for the stretch run.
Before the Astros’ 5-4 victory over the Red Sox on Monday, Espada announced the club would utilize a six-man rotation once Verlander returns to the fold.
“The plan here is to get him ready for 2025,” Espada said of Garcia. “There aren’t enough days to get him back on the mound this season. We’re not going to rush that process. We need Luis for the future.
“Right now he’s progressing well, but he will not pitch this season.”
Right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-6, 2.89 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Tuesday.
Despite twirling six shutout innings against the host Tampa Bay Rays in his previous start on Wednesday, allowing two hits and no walks while recording four strikeouts, Blanco remains winless over his past six starts (0-3, 4.06 ERA).
Blanco did not factor into the decision of that 2-1 victory over the Rays and has just one winning decision over his last nine starts despite pitching to a 3.83 ERA and a .688 opponents’ OPS in that span.
Blanco faced the Red Sox for the first time in his career on Aug. 9. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings, winding up with a no-decision as the Astros won 8-4.
Right-hander Nick Pivetta (5-8, 4.49 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Red Sox. He was the pitcher of record in a 5-1 road loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday after allowing three runs on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings.
Pivetta is 1-4 with a 5.17 ERA over his last nine starts. His last road win came on June 17 at Toronto, where he allowed three runs on nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings in a 7-3 victory.
Pivetta is 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA over four career appearances (three starts) against the Astros. His last appearance against Houston came in relief on Aug. 23, 2023, when he recorded two outs — both strikeouts — and one walk while earning a 7-5 road victory.
The Red Sox not only coughed up a pair of two-run leads on Monday, but they failed to capitalize on four Houston errors and a solid start from right-hander Tanner Houck. Boston closer Kenley Jansen served up a walk-off homer to Yainer Diaz with one out in the ninth inning.
Striking a successful balance between both parts of the pitching staff serves as an immediate goal for Boston.
“I do believe the way we’re throwing the ball from the first through the sixth inning, we’re going to be OK,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I think that’s the most important thing.
“We struggled there for a little bit and the bullpen paid the price. And now we’re throwing the ball extremely well from our starters. They’re giving us a chance to win. That’s what happened early in the season. And I think we’re going to continue doing that.”
–Field Level Media
