The Houston Astros are in a tight divisional race with the Seattle Mariners, where every game is now extremely important down the final month and a half stretch of the season. There is extra emphasis on staying healthy this time of year for teams that are in the playoff picture.
For the Astros, their star closer, Josh Hader, is now dealing with a shoulder issue, which could be serious. He reported discomfort before Monday’s contest against the Boston Red Sox, and manager Joe Espada does not know the severity of the injury.
Josh Hader is Going to Miss Time for the Astros
Several outlets reported on August 12Â that Josh Hader will head to the 15-day Injured List. The corresponding moves were reinstating RHP Shawn Dubin from the 15-day IL, recalling LHP Colton Gordon from Triple A and designating RHP Hector Neris for assignment.
“Astros have placed LHP Josh Hader on the 15-day IL (retro to Aug. 11) with a left shoulder strain,” Brian McTaggart of MLB.com wrote on X. “The club has also reinstated RHP Shawn Dubin from the 15-day IL, recalled LHP Colton Gordon from Triple A and designated RHP Hector Neris for assignment.”
This is no doubt terrible news for the Astros. The six-time All-Star is having another stellar season for Houston. He has a 2.05 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched and 76 strikeouts. His WHIP is 0.854, and he has 28 saves on the season.
Houston will have to figure out the closer situation over the next couple of weeks, but they will also hold their breath that this injury doesn’t hold Josh Hader out for the rest of the season. He’s essential to their bullpen.
In a shocking first, Hader lands on the IL in his career. He’s been one of baseball’s most dominant and durable relievers since he broke in with the Brewers in 2017.
Josh Hader’s Stellar Season By the Numbers
MLBTradeRumors.com was quick on the news and has some of the in-depth statistics as to what makes Josh Hader so good:
“After an up-and-down first year with Houston in 2024, Hader has been back to his typically dominant self in 2025. Heâs totaled 52 2/3 innings and worked to a 2.05 earned run average while piling up 28 saves and punching out an outstanding 36.9% of his opponents against a quality 7.6% walk rate. Haderâs sinker is averaging 95.5 mph, down about a half-mile from last season, and heâs throwing his slider more than ever before â at a 41.4% clip. His colossal 21.1% swinging-strike rate is tied with Mason Miller for tops among all big league pitchers â starters and relievers alike â with at least 10 innings pitched this season.”
He’s in the second year of a five-year, $95 million deal he signed in the offseason before last season. The Astros will likely turn to Bryan Abreu to close situations in Hader’s absence, which is a great option. Abreu has been one of the best relievers in the entire sport this season, posting a 1.67 ERA in 54 innings and 79 strikeouts.
The one draw is that Bryan Abreu has zero saves this season, and this is coming at the most critical weeks of the season, where the games matter just a little bit more than they did in, let’s say, May and June.
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