Luis Garcia will miss the 2026 season after announcing that he’ll undergo surgery to address right elbow issues. The Houston Astros’ rotation depth takes another hit after Garcia’s turbulent return from Tommy John surgery, including a September win over the Angels and a brief, troubling exit in Toronto. The club has already absorbed elbow surgeries for Ronel Blanco, Hayden Wesneski, Brandon Walter, and John Rooney this season, heightening concerns about innings and frontline upside as Houston heads into salary-arbitration territory with Garcia’s future in question.

Garcia’s resume shows 56 starts across 2021-22 with a 26-16 record and a solid 3.60 ERA, underscoring the potential value he carried when healthy. The trajectory now shifts toward internal depth and strategic roster moves as the Astros chart a path through an injury-plagued year and re-evaluate how to cover innings behind a thinner rotation.

Brandon Walter underwent UCL reconstruction after elbow inflammation, ending nine starts this season with a 3.35 ERA. He joins a Houston elbow-surgery cluster that includes Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski (Tommy John) in the first half and reliever John Rooney, who had elbow surgery recently.

Fantasy managers should watch Houston's rotation depth and bullpen usage as rehab unfolds, with return timelines uncertain and younger arms stepping in.