Astros closer Josh Hader lands on Injured List due to shoulder strain, threatens Houston's leadership in AL West
Houston Astros Lose Closer Josh Hader to Injury, Rely on Bullpen Depth
The Houston Astros are facing a significant challenge as their closer, Josh Hader, has been placed on the injured list (IL) due to a left shoulder capsule strain. The injury occurred during a workout and prevented Hader from pitching in Houston's game against the Boston Red Sox.
Hader, a key contributor to the Astros' success this season, has pitched only three times in August and has a 2.05 ERA and a 4.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 15-day IL stint retroactive to August 11 or 12, 2025, means that Hader will be out of action for approximately three weeks. During this time, he will focus on rest and strengthening exercises before being reexamined to determine his readiness to resume throwing and pitching.
Astros General Manager Dana Brown indicated that the next three weeks would be for rehab, aiming at strengthening and rest, with hope that Hader will recover and return to normal activity after this period. However, Astros manager Joe Espada mentioned that Hader would seek a second opinion and additional testing to clarify the severity, and that the injury may require more time beyond the minimum 15-day IL stint.
The Astros' lead in the American League West, which they held as recently as July 30, has slipped away, and the team is currently facing stiff competition from the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have been on a nine-game winning streak, while the Astros have won five and lost five games since then.
In Hader's absence, manager Joe Espada managed the ninth inning using relievers Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa. Sousa, a lefty reliever for the Astros, was credited with his fifth career save (fourth of the season) after striking out the only batter he faced. Bryan Abreu and Bryan King are among the pitchers expected to be used in a committee approach by Manager Joe Espada in Hader's absence.
The Astros' roster is missing key contributors such as Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers, Ronel Blanco, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, and Hayden Wesneski, in addition to Hader. The team will need to rely on their depth and resilience to navigate this challenging period.
The Astros and Seattle Mariners are set to play on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen how the team will fare without Hader in their bullpen. The game will be a crucial test of the Astros' ability to adapt and maintain their lead in the American League West.
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- The Astros will have to rely on their deep roster, as key pitcher Josh Hader has been placed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury.
- With Hader out for approximately three weeks, manager Joe Espada will lean on relievers such as Bennett Sousa and Bryan Abreu to fill the void in the bullpen.
- The Astros' chances of winning the MLB season's sports title, particularly the American League West, are in question, given their tight competition with the Seattle Mariners.
- The upcoming game between the Astros and Mariners on Tuesday will serve as a significant test for the Astros' ability to adapt and navigate this challenging period in their season.
