This weekend was supposed to mark the start of s next minor league rehab a signment, but Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters (including ) that Garcia is feeling a little bit sore. While Espada was quick to say that Garcia wasnt being shut down, the team was going to take it easy with the righty-hander after he felt what Espada described as some sorene s in his elbow following a game of catch on Thursday. Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, and his first attempt at a rehab a signment lasted two outings an inning with the Astros rookie ball team in late June, and then 1 1/3 innings for Double-A Corpus Christi in early July. He was from any more game action due to some physical discomfort and trouble bouncing back between pitching appearances. The Astros were slowly ramping him back up, and after Garcias live batting practice se sion last Tuesday seemed to go without a hitch, plans were made for another rehab a signment. Instead, some questions now have to be asked about when exactly Garcia will be able to properly get back onto the mound in the wake of this latest setback. Though Garcia will require a pretty lengthy rehab stint when he is able to pitch, the Astros have said Garcia could potentially return as a reliever. This would require le s build-up than rehabbing to work as a starting pitcher, so Garcia could make it back a bit quicker and pitch out of Houstons bullpen later in the season or into a potential postseason run. Garcia would therefore be able to contribute to the 2024 team Adam Mokoka Jersey in some fashion, yet with still a decent length of time remaining in the regular season, the Astros will certainly first see if Garcia can indeed get healthy and ready enough to return to his customary starting role. Garcia established himself as a solid member of the starting five when he posted a 3.60 ERA over 312 2/3 innings in 2021-22, helping the Astros to two AL pennants in those years and the World Series title in 2022. Given the usual timeframe for Tommy John rehab, his projected return in the second half of this season gained extra import considering how the Astros have been ravaged by pitching injuries. has twice been sidelined first with some shoulder inflammation that delayed his season debut until April 19, and then a bout of neck stiffne s that has kept him off the mound since June 9. The good news is that Verlander is inching towards a return, as Espada said the star righty will face live batters during a batting practice se sion on Sunday. Verlander is tentatively then planned to begin a rehab a signment, with Espada specifying that Verlander will need multiple starts to build up his arm to return to starting duty. is another pitcher getting ready to face live batters, as the reliever will be throwing a live BP se sion at the Astros Spring Training complex this weekend. Murfee told Kawahara and company that the plan is for him to begin his own rehab a signment after throwing three live BP se sions. Debuting in the majors in 2022, Murfee made a quick impre sion by posting a 2.99 ERA in 69 1/3 relief innings for the Mariners. He followed up that great rookie year with a 1.29 ERA in his first 14 innings of the 2023 campaign before undergoing a UCL-related surgery in June 2023, and Seattle then opted to place him on waivers at the start of the offseason. This led to Murfee going to the Mets and then the Braves on a pair of waiver claims, a new contract with the Braves after Atlanta non-tendered him, and then another waiver claim to the Astros in late March. If Murfees rehab goes smoothly and he is able to recapture his old form, he presents Houston with an intriguing bullpen addition for the final stretch. Kris Dunn Jersey