The Seattle Mariners' biggest rival suffers another devastating injury blow

The Seattle Mariners enter Monday night's game trailing the Houston Astros by 4.0 games in the American League West. The injury-plagued Astros are looking to advance to the ALCS or higher for the eighth consecutive year.

Although Mariners fans may not want to admit it, it's pretty amazing what the Astros have accomplished this year. They've played long stretches without Kyle Tucker and Justin Verlander (and continue to do so). They've also lost Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy and JP France from their pitching department. Garcia is now out for the rest of the season and will not be an option as the Astros look to close out the division.

According to Astros reporter Chandler Rome of The Athletic:

Luis Garcia will not pitch for the Astros this season, Joe Espada said. Garcia will return to play catcher this weekend, but that should prepare him for 2025.

The 27-year-old from Venezuela would have played a major role in the Astros' plans had he been able to return, but he is clearly not ready after undergoing Tommy John surgery a year ago.

He has a career record of 28-19 with a 3.61 ERA, and he also shut down the Mariners as a relief pitcher for much of the 2022 ALDS Game 3, which went 18 innings and was won 1-0 by the Astros.

The Mariners face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night with first pitch at 7:10 p.m. PT. The Astros host the Boston Red Sox at 5:10 p.m. PT.

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