Garcia picked up a hold against San Francisco on Wednesday, striking out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning.
When Josh Hader was demoted from the closer role nearly two weeks ago, Garcia was called upon for the Padres' next save chance. He converted that opportunity successfully, but Nick Martinez subsequently took over closing duties and notched the team's next four saves. With Martinez unavailable Wednesday, Garcia was used to face just one batter in the eighth frame while Hader closed out the game and picked up the save. It's unclear how Martinez and Hader will share ninth-inning duties moving forward, but it seems apparent that Garcia's role will be almost exclusively in a setup capacity. He's notched 20 holds and posted a 10.1 K/9 on the campaign, making him a solid target in fantasy leagues that count holds.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Notches third save
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Garcia saved Saturday's 2-1 victory over Washington, allowing a single and hit-by-pitch in a scoreless ninth inning.
Manager Bob Melvin turned to Garcia to protect a one-run lead and he delivered with the help of a game-ending double play despite a pair of baserunners. All three of the 35-year-old's saves have come since July 31 and more opportunities could lie ahead with the news that Josh Hader would be receiving time off from closing duties after a rocky first few weeks with San Diego. Garcia sports a 3.40 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 45 innings across 47 appearances.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Window open for saves?
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Garcia could see save chances after manager Bob Melvin told Dennis Lin of The Athletic that the team will give Josh Hader "a little break" from the closer role.
Officially the team is going with a closer-by-committee approach, at least until Hader figures it out. Garcia was the one wrestling the job away from Taylor Rogers before the trade, and he makes for an obvious candidate to take over as the primary option in the interim. Robert Suarez and Nick Martinez are other righty candidates, along with lefty Adrian Morejon.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Takes loss Tuesday
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Garcia (4-6) was tagged with the loss against Miami on Tuesday as the result of allowing a run on two hits in one inning. He struck out one batter.
Garcia entered in the seventh inning with the score tied 3-3. He allowed a leadoff single followed by a one-out double that plated a run. Garcia bounced back to retire the next two batters, but the damage was enough to send him to his sixth loss. Despite that outcome, Garcia has been one of San Diego's most reliable bullpen arms this season, racking up 19 holds, two saves and four victories over 45 appearances.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Collects second save
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Garcia retired both batters he faced to earn the save in Monday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.
Nick Martinez pitched a scoreless eighth inning but allowed two hits in the ninth. Garcia then entered and escaped the jam on just four pitches to earn his second save in as many days. The right-hander appeared to be the next man up after Taylor Rogers was removed from the closer role, but the Padres' acquisition of Josh Hader from the Brewers on Monday suggests Garcia's time in the ninth inning is soon to end. He's still been an effective high-leverage option with a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 42:12 K:BB, two saves and 18 holds through 39.2 innings this year.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Notches first save
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Garcia saved Sunday's 3-2 win against the Twins, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
With the recent news that Taylor Rogers would get "a little bit of a break" from closing duties per manager Bob Melvin, Garcia received first crack at the job and delivered a seamless ninth inning in a one-run game to register his first save of the season. Teammate Nick Martinez recently saved Tuesday's victory over Detroit and is second on the team to Rogers with four saves, though he pitched the 10th after Rogers appeared in the ninth inning. The 35-year-old Garcia has compiled a solid 1.93 ERA through nine July appearances with as many strikeouts (10) as baserunners allowed.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Picks up 16th hold
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Garcia earned a hold against the Mets on Saturday by retiring both batters he faced in the eighth inning.
Garcia came on with a runner on first base and one out, and he induced a pair of groundouts to preserve a 2-0 lead. He's been a bit shaky with five earned runs allowed over his past eight outings, but the right-hander has still managed four holds over that span. Garcia is tied for seventh in the majors with 16 holds on the campaign.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Takes loss Saturday
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Garcia (4-5) was tagged with the loss against San Francisco on Saturday as the result of allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over one inning. He struck out one batter.
San Francisco starter Carlos Rodon and Padres starter Yu Darvish engaged in a pitchers' duel for seven innings Saturday, with both hurlers allowing only one run. Garcia came on to replace Darvish in the eighth and couldn't extend the excellent pitching, walking Joc Pederson with one out before serving up a two-run homer to Wilmer Flores. Garcia was consequently handed his fifth loss of the campaign. He's given up at least one run in three of his past five outings and has walked three batters over 5.1 frames during that stretch.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Records 10th hold Thursday
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Garcia earned a hold against the Cubs on Thursday, allowing an unearned run on one hit while striking out two over one inning.
A one-out error by first baseman Eric Hosmer led to a run in the inning, but Garcia limited the damage while striking out a pair of hitters. He picked up his 10th hold of the season, but it was just his first over his past five outings. Garcia leads the team in that category this season.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Charged with loss Sunday
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Garcia (4-3) took the loss in relief against Colorado on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out two batters in one inning.
Garcia entered the contest with the score tied 2-2 in the eighth inning. The right-hander sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around two singles before giving up a two-run double that provided the final margin in the contest. Garcia entered the contest having notched eight straight scoreless outings, and he has been reliable overall this season with a 3.09 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 24:6 K:BB and 10 holds across 24 appearances.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Picks up win Sunday
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Garcia (4-2) earned the win over Pittsburgh on Sunday with a scoreless inning that included one strikeout.
Garcia was tasked with handling the top of the 10th inning for San Diego, and he kept the Pirates off the scoreboard with the help of an errant pitch that fortuitously resulted in Hoy Park being tagged out at home plate. The right-hander was credited with the win when Trent Grisham blasted a walkoff homer in the bottom of the frame. Garcia has been effective out of the bullpen for the Padres this season, posting a 2.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB across 18.1 innings. In addition to his four wins, he has notched nine holds.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Notches win Monday
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Garcia (3-2) earned the win over Milwaukee on Monday, pitching a scoreless inning during which he gave up one hit and one walk.
Garcia was handed the ball in the 10th inning and found himself in immediate trouble, loading the bases with nobody out by giving up a single and a walk. He got out of the jam, however, thanks to a double play and a groundout. Garcia was then credited with the victory when the Padres walked off with a win in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has three wins and eight holds on the campaign while posting a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB across 15.1 innings.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Reinstated from IL
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The Padres reinstated Garcia (oblique) from the injured list Friday, and he allowed one hit and no runs over two-thirds of an inning in the team's loss to Atlanta.
Garcia opened the season on the IL due to the oblique issue, but he was able to return to the big club after two minor-league rehab outings. The 35-year-old relieved MacKenzie Gore with one out in the sixth inning of Friday's contest and needed just six pitches to get out of the frame, though he gave up a single to Marcell Ozuna. Garcia notched 11 holds with the Cardinals last season before signing with San Diego in December.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Begins rehab assignment
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Garcia (oblique) pitched a scoreless inning for Low-A Lake Elsinore on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Garcia felt discomfort in his side during his first Cactus League appearance March 21, and he was diagnosed with a right oblique strain and placed on the 10-day injured list April 7. However, the right-hander came away from the rehab outing Saturday without concern, and he could be ready to rejoin the Padres when first eligible April 17. Garcia figures to play a significant role in the team's bullpen this season after posting a 3.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB across 33.1 innings with St. Louis last season.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Goes on IL
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The Padres placed Garcia on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain.
After signing a two-year, $7 million contract with San Diego in the winter, Garcia looked like a potential candidate to factor into the mix for saves with his new team, but his oblique injury coupled with the Padres' acquisition of closer Taylor Rogers from the Twins on Thursday likely ends those hopes. Once he moves past the oblique strain, Garcia will presumably slot into a setup or middle-inning role for the Padres.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Expected to begin season on IL
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Garcia is expected to begin the season on the 10-day injured list while he contends with a side injury that first surfaced during his Cactus League debut March 21, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
According to Cassavell, Garcia was able to play catch Monday, so his side injury doesn't look to be a long-term concern. In any case, Garcia doesn't look as though he'll have enough time to get fully ramped up for Opening Day, which will leave him out of the mix not only for a spot in the Padres' season-opening bullpen but also remove him from contention for the closing job for the time being. Manager Bob Melvin has yet to anoint a closer as Opening Day approaches, so it's possible the Friars take a committee approach to the ninth inning to begin the season before potentially settling on a preferred option. Garcia was believed to be a candidate to factor into the closing picture after he submitted a 3.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 34:8 K:BB in 33.1 innings for the Cardinals in 2021 before inking a two-year, $7 million deal with the Padres in free agency this winter.
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Padres' Luis Garcia: Lands with Padres
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Garcia signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Garcia served as a late reliever for the Cardinals in 2021 and converted two of three save chances while recording 11 holds. Across 34 relief appearances, he posted a 3.24 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 33.1 innings. The Padres lost closer Mark Melancon to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, so Garcia will likely compete for save chances with Emilio Pagan ahead of the 2022 campaign.
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Cardinals' Luis Garcia: Impresses in 2021
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Garcia recorded a 3.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 34 strikeouts across 33.1 innings of relief work this season.
Garcia added 1.2 scoreless innings in the NL Wild Card Game loss against the Dodgers, and he established himself as one of the top bullpen options for the Cardinals during the season. The 34-year-old has bounced around a bit during his MLB career but figures to get another shot in St. Louis next year, and he could end up on the fantasy radar if he starts seeing save chances.
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Cardinals' Luis Garcia: Locks down second save
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Garcia earned a two-out save with a pair of strikeouts Thursday against the Brewers.
With the Cardinals holding onto a one-run lead in the ninth, Garcia came into the game to replace T.J. McFarland after he issued a one-walk out. The right-hander sent Lorenzo Cain and Kolten Wong down on strikes to finish things off. While Giovanny Gallegos remains the closer in St. Louis, Garcia has provided sufficient bullpen support, pitching to the tune of a 2.78 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with a pair of saves across 33 appearances.
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Cardinals' Luis Garcia: Earns save
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Garcia struck out a batter during a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his first save of the season in Monday's 5-2 win over the Brewers.
Garcia was blown up for two runs on a pair of hits while managing to get just one out against the Padres on Sunday, but he bounced back nicely with a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his first save of 2021. The 30-year-old had a 25.1-inning scoreless streak before Sunday's outing and appears to have possibly earned himself some more trust in high-leverage scenarios. For the year, Garcia has a 2.60 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB over 27.2 innings.
