Houston Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia leaves the games with manager Dusty Baker Jr. against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning in Game 2 of the ALCS. Garcia has been declared healthy and will start tonight's Game 6 vs. the Red Sox in Houston. (AP photo)

HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Luis García will start for the Houston Astros against the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the AL Championship Series on Friday night with a trip to the World Series on the line.

García started Game 2 and gave up a grand slam in the first inning before leaving with no outs in the second because of discomfort in his right knee. Manager Dusty Baker announced Thursday that García would get the ball for Game 6 and said the Astros are confident the problem is behind García and he’ll be 100% healthy for Friday’s start.

The Astros fell behind 2-1 in the series after two big wins by the Red Sox. But they rode their powerful offense to consecutive victories in the last two games to take the series lead and move within a win of advancing to the World Series for the second time in three seasons.

The Astros won the championship in 2017, a crown tainted by the team’s sign-stealing scandal, before losing to the Washington Nationals in seven games in the 2019 World Series.

The Red Sox previously announced that Nathan Eovaldi would start Game 6. Eovaldi got the win in a solid Game 2 start but was charged with the loss in Game 4 after giving up the go-ahead runs after coming in with the game tied in the ninth.

“I love it,” he said Thursday. “I feel like this is what everybody wants to do. Every guy in the locker room wants to be able to start tomorrow and be able to be in this situation, and I’m thankful that I get to be here and be able to do it. There’s just something about when everything is on the line, and I think it brings the best out of us.”

The Astros got eight terrific innings from Framber Valdez in a 9-1 win in Game 5. The performance gave Houston’s taxed bullpen a much-needed break after relievers pitched 29 1/3 innings combined through the first four games.

Baker said Jake Odorizzi would be available for long relief Friday if needed. Odorizzi threw 82 pitches in four innings in Game 2 after taking over following the injury to García.

Baker also said rookie center fielder Jake Meyers, who hasn’t played this series after injuring his shoulder in the final game of the ALDS, probably wouldn’t return to the lineup in this series. He said Meyers could pinch-run or pinch-hit but isn’t ready to return to the field. Fellow rookies Chas McCormick and rookie José Siri have filled in at center against the Red Sox.

Houston is without ace Lance McCullers Jr. for this series because of a flexor pronator muscle strain in his right arm. Baker said Thursday that McCullers still hasn’t resumed throwing, so it’s unclear if he would be available to return if the Astros were to advance.

If necessary, Game 7 would be Saturday night in Houston.

SOX NOTES

Also Thursday: Sox manager Alex Cora said Kevin Plawecki, who has been catching Eovaldi’s starts, will play instead of Christian Vázquez; the rest of the lineup is expected to be the same.

The Red Sox also reinstated righty Phillips Valdez from the COVID-19 injured list. Outfielder Franchy Cordero, who was acquired in the trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City, was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Valdez was 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA this season before going on the IL on Sept. 12 and missing the rest of the season. He would not be eligible for the postseason unless the team needs an injury replacement.

Cordero hit .189 with one home run and nine RBIs this season, while also playing 78 games for Triple-A Worcester.

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