(SportsRadio 610) -- Astros righthander Luis Garcia will begin the 2021 season as their fifth starter as free-agent signee Jake Odorizzi works his way into the rotation, manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday.
Odorizzi, an All-Star in 2019, is expected to assume a role in the Astros' rotation possibly as early as the first homestand.
In the meantime, 24-year-old Garcia gets the nod, in which case he'll likely make his season debut next Monday, April 5 at the Los Angeles Angels.
If all goes well, Garcia will only get one start before Odorizzi is able to join Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers Jr., Jose Urquidy and Cristian Javier in the rotation.
Garcia made his Major League debut last season after never appearing in a game above single A. He was not invited to spring training and was added to the Astros' player pool prior to summer camp after the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season.
Garcia debuted against the Angels on Sept. 4 in relief of McCullers, then became just the second pitcher in franchise history to go more than 4 1/3 innings while allowing one or fewer hits in his MLB debut.
Garcia's first career start came five days later in Oakland, where he tossed five scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with two walks and four strikeouts.
Garcia posted a 2.92 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in five appearances over 12 2/3 innings.
