Astros' Josh Hader: Expected to be out until postseason
Rotowire
It will take Hader (shoulder) three more weeks to ramp up after his three-week shutdown, meaning he likely won't pitch again in the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reported Friday.
Hader is dealing with a left shoulder capsule sprain, and it will take him approximately six weeks to get back to a point where he can pitch for the Astros. That timeline would mean a late-September return, so the expectation is that Hader won't be available until the postseason. Bryan Abreu got the first crack at closing duties and seems to be the frontrunner for saves the rest of the way. Houston has a half-game lead in the division but would likely earn a Wild Card spot if Seattle passes them for the division title.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Won't throw for three weeks
Rotowire
Hader has been diagnosed with a left shoulder capsule sprain and will not throw for approximately three weeks, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After the three weeks of not throwing, the next steps will be determined in Hader's recovery. Hader received multiple medical opinions on his injured shoulder, and this is the current course of action. A return toward the end of the regular season seems like best-case scenario right now. Bryan Abreu picked up the save in Hader's absence Wednesday against the Red Sox.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Getting second opinion on shoulder
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Hader will seek a second opinion on his left shoulder strain and will be sidelined "a little bit longer than the two weeks," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Espada would not reveal what the first diagnosis was, but the injury is at least bad enough that Hader will not be back when his 15 days on the injured list are up. More information on Hader's condition and timeline should be available after he gets the second opinion. Espada has said he will not name a closer while Hader is out, but Bryan Abreu is the favorite to see most of the ninth-inning work for the Astros.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Lands on IL with shoulder strain
Rotowire
The Astros placed Hader on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Aug. 11, due to a left shoulder strain.
The All-Star closer was unavailable for the save Monday against the Red Sox due to left shoulder discomfort, and he's now been diagnosed with a strain. Hader will be eligible to be reinstated Aug. 26, though he's without an official timeline for his return since a recovery timetable has yet to be announced. Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa combined to handle the ninth inning Monday, but setup man Bryan Abreu is the likely favorite to fill in as Houston's closer.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Nursing shoulder issue
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said that Hader wasn't available to pitch in Monday's 7-6 victory over the Red Sox due to left shoulder discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Espada didn't specify whether Hader will require a stint on the injured list due to the shoulder issue, as the Astros will sent the closer in for further tests before deciding his next steps. While Hader was unavailable Monday, the Astros sent right-hander Enyel De Los Santos to the mound to begin the ninth inning, and he retired two of three hitters before being pulled in favor of lefty Bennett Sousa, who struck out the left-handed-hitting Roman Anthony to secure the save.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Picks up sixth win
Rotowire
Hader (6-2) allowed one unearned run on one walk and one hit across two innings to earn the win Friday against the Yankees.
Hader entered the game with the score tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning. He pitched a clean opening frame and then managed to protect a three-run lead in the 10th inning, despite giving up a run-scoring single to the second batter he faced. Hader has now gone eight appearances without allowing an earned run, picking up three saves and a win in that span.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Clean outing in non-save situation
Rotowire
Hader walked one and struck out two across a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday against the Marlins.
Hader hadn't appeared in a game since Friday, so he made an appearance despite Houston holding a four-run lead. He walked the second batter he faced but ran into little trouble and has now turned in seven consecutive scoreless appearances since the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Nails down 28th save
Rotowire
Hader picked up the save in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Nationals, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.
The All-Star southpaw dispatched the Nationals, with nine of his 13 pitches landing for strikes. The three strikeouts were Hader's most since May 28 versus the Athletics, and he's tallied multiple punchouts in seven of his last nine outings. For the season, he owns a 2.22 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 73:13 K:BB while converting 28 of his 29 save chances over 48.2 frames.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Walks tightrope for save
Rotowire
Hader walked two in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Monday's 6-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
Hader got two outs on his first six pitches, then walked two batters before getting Josh Naylor on a flyout to end the threat. Hader took a blown save in his last appearance before the All-Star break and has walked four batters over three innings in two outings since the season resumed, which has made for a tumultuous July for the Houston closer. He's still been sharp enough when it matters, converting 26 of 27 save chances this season with a 2.36 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 66:13 K:BB across 45.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Takes first blown save
Rotowire
Hader allowed a run on two hits and struck out two in one inning to take a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rangers.
Hader served up a game-tying home run to Kyle Higashioka in the ninth inning, which stuck the Houston closer with his first blown save of the year. He's also showing some struggles -- after allowing four runs (three earned) across 13.2 innings in June, he's been charged with six runs (five earned) through five frames in July. The long ball remains a problem, as Hader has given up eight homers in 42.2 innings this season, though he's largely been successful by converting 25 of 26 save chances. He's added a 2.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 65:9 K:BB, ratios that are better than last year across the board.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Secures save No. 25
Rotowire
Hader notched a save against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters in one scoreless inning.
Hader entered with a two-run lead in the ninth frame and quickly saw the tying run come to the plate after allowing Shohei Ohtani to hit a leadoff single. However, Hader retired the following three batters in order, as none of Mookie Betts, Will Smith or Freddie Freeman could move Ohtani past first base. Hader remains without a blown save this season, and he leads all MLB relievers with 25 total saves.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Claims 24th save
Rotowire
Hader picked up the save Tuesday against the Rockies. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over one inning.
The southpaw surrendered a solo shot to Hunter Goodman but still closed out his league-leading 24th save of the season Tuesday. Hader has been dominant in 2025, converting every save opportunity and notching six straight saves in his last six outings. On the year, the veteran closer owns a stellar 1.86 ERA and 0.72 WHIP through 38.2 innings across 37 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Notches 23rd save
Rotowire
Hader picked up the save Sunday against the Cubs, striking out one during a perfect ninth inning.
Hader notched his fifth save over the last seven days, vaulting him into a tie with Robert Suarez for the most saves in MLB. In his last 14 appearances, Hader has a 1.98 ERA and a 22:1 K:BB across 13.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Gets last out for save
Rotowire
Hader retired the only batter he faced to earn the save in Friday's 7-4 win over the Cubs.
Bennett Sousa stayed in the game in the ninth inning after pitching the eighth, but he struggled a bit in the frame. Hader was called in with two outs and a runner on second base, and he got Ian Happ to line out to end the threat. Hader is up to 22 saves on the year, including one in each of his last four appearances. He's shown a little shakiness with four runs allowed (three earned) over 12.2 innings in June, but his 21:1 K:BB for the month showcases his continued late-inning dominance. Overall, he's at a 1.72 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 56:7 K:BB through 36.2 innings on the year.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Secures 20th save
Rotowire
Hader picked up the save Tuesday against Philadelphia, logging two strikeouts over a scoreless ninth inning.
Hader became the third closer to reach 20 saves this season, joining Carlos Estevez and Robert Suarez. Hader has struck out multiple batters in 11 of his last 13 appearances and owns a 2.03 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP and a 26:2 K:BB during that stretch.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Hangs on for save
Rotowire
Hader picked up the save Sunday against the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with two strikeouts over one inning.
Hader surrendered a leadoff home run to Zach Neto, then rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts before yielding a double to Nolan Schanuel. Hader managed to avoid the blown save by retiring Mike Trout to end the inning. The veteran closer has allowed a run in three of his last six appearances, but he has yet to be attributed a blown save this season and boasts a 1.83 ERA.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Takes extra-inning loss
Rotowire
Hader (4-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and struck out two over 1.1 innings to take the extra-inning loss Thursday versus the Athletics.
Hader did well to keep the game tied with a sharp 11-pitch ninth inning, but he served up a walk-off home run to Nick Kurtz in the 10th. This is just the second time all season Hader's been tagged for multiple runs, though he has been scored upon in two of his last four outings. He has a 1.67 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 50:7 K:BB through 32.1 innings this season, and he remains a perfect 18-for-18 in save chances, as he entered Thursday's contest with the game tied. Hader is as sharp as ever this year, but it'll be important for him to put this outing behind him quickly, as he's had a tendency to let slumps snowball in previous seasons.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Nabs fourth win
Rotowire
Hader didn't allow a hit or a walk with one strikeout over a scoreless 10th inning against the Twins on Sunday.
Hader logged his third win in four appearances, closing the door on the Twins after Houston scored runs in the ninth and 10th innings to land the 2-1 win. Despite the victory, Hader snapped a streak of eight consecutive innings with multiple strikeouts. After posting a sub-standard 3.80 ERA in 2024, Hader boasts a 1.45 ERA and a 48:7 K:BB over 31 innings in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Converts 17th save
Rotowire
Hader earned the save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Guardians, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Hader was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth and needed just 12 pitches to do so. The southpaw has now gone eight straight outings without allowing a run and has held opponents scoreless in 22 of his 25 appearances this season. He's a perfect 17-for-17 in save opportunities with a 1.33 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and 41:6 K:BB across 27 innings.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Josh Hader: Notches save Tuesday
Rotowire
Hader struck out two batters in a perfect inning to earn a save against the Pirates on Tuesday.
Hader tossed 12 of 15 pitches for strikes as he cruised to his 16th save of the year. He's perfect in save chances this year and owns an active seven-inning scoreless streak. Hader dropped his ERA to 1.38 with a 39:6 K:BB through 26 frames this season. He's posted a 12:1 K:BB since he last allowed a run May 16.
