Astros turn to youngster Luis Garcia for Game 5 with season on line

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker announced 23-year-old right-hander Luis Garcia will start in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Garcia has only appeared in five big-league games, authoring a 2.92 ERA and 4.25 FIP across 12 1/3 innings this season.

The Venezuelan was a combined 10-4 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 24 minor-league outings in 2019.

Garcia will pitch opposite John Curtiss, who will open for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Houston was left with few starting options after using Zack Greinke, Framber Valdez, Lance McCullers Jr., Jose Urquidy, and Cristian Javier during the series' first four games.