18Oct
The Astros are still evaluating right-handed starter Luis Garcia after he left Game 2 of the American League Championship Series versus the Red Sox with right knee discomfort.
Astros manager Dusty Baker admitted the injury probably affected Garcia’s performance after he permitted a first-inning grand slam to J.D. Martinez then walked the leadoff man in the second, on four pitches, before leaving.
“I think it was his push-off leg,” Baker said after the Red Sox posted a 9-5 win to even the series 1-1. “He had a strain in his knee, and he is being evaluated by our doctors.”
Baker couldn’t say if Garcia would be substituted on the ALCS roster. If he needs to come off, due to an injury, he would be ineligible for the World Series. He lasted only 2⅔ innings against the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, but it’s not known if his knee was bothering him during that outing.
“It came to our knowledge that this has kind of been bothering him a little bit on and off, but he hadn’t said anything about it,” Baker said. “It wasn’t bothering him enough not to pitch.”
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The injury — combined with one to veteran Lance McCullers Jr., who is not on the ALCS roster — puts the Astros in a bind. They used Jake Odorizzi in relief of Garcia on Saturday even though he was set to start Game 4. That’s no longer an option.
“We’ve got to try to figure it out,” Baker said. “We’ve been trying to avoid using Odorizzi the first couple games. That’s why we used everybody yesterday [in Game 1].
“We had planned on him being a Game 4 starter, but every time you make a plan, it’s always foiled by something, and today, it was foiled by the grand slam in the first. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a grand slam in the first and second.”
Rafael Devers took Odorizzi deep after the Astros righty took an especially long time to warm up.
By rule, a pitcher entering the game to replace an injured one can take as much time as he desires to get ready. Still, it was about half the time Odorizzi is used to.
“I was caught off guard by it, obviously,” Odorizzi said. “I didn’t know what was going on. … My typical routine is out the window at that point. I think all things considered — I’m sure it felt like forever for you all — but for me, that was about the fastest I can warm up.
“Usually, it takes me 30-plus minutes, and I think I did it in under 15, so not ideal, and it’s not like it’s a fun warm-up. You’re sitting there pretty much naked in front of the other team. They get to watch every single pitch you’re throwing.”
Odorizzi ate up four innings after the Devers grand slam, but the game was already out of hand.
Jose Urquidy will start Game 3 for Houston on Monday, but after that, the Astros need a new plan. After McCullers was declared out due to a forearm ailment, Baker said his offense needed to pick up the slack. He was asked the same after the Garcia injury.
“Do some more [on offense],” Baker said with a half-smile. “You don’t have much choice, so we just have to do some more. That’s all.”
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