Overview

• Garcia left Tuesday’s outing in the second inning after signaling to the dugout in his second start since returning from a 28-month Tommy John recovery.
• Manager Joe Espada said the severity is not yet known as Garcia travels for testing, and the timeline could brush against the season’s final days even on a minimum stint.
• Houston recalled right-hander Nick Hernandez; the rotation now features Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier and Jason Alexander with Garcia’s turn due Sunday in Atlanta.
• Rookie AJ Blubaugh is under consideration after 3 1/3 hitless relief innings, while J.P. France and Lance McCullers Jr. remain bullpen options; Colton Gordon cannot be recalled yet due to the 15-day option rule.
• The staff has been thinned by injuries including Spencer Arrighetti (elbow inflammation), Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski (Tommy John), Brandon Walter set for elbow surgery, and relievers Josh Hader, John Rooney, Kaleb Ort and Bennett Sousa on the IL.