The Houston Astros were dealt some horrible news on Tuesday night, as their All-Star closer Josh Hader was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. In his nine-year MLB career, it's his first stint on the injured list, and it comes at a tough time for Houston.
After the injury announcement, Astros manager Joe Espada, in a post from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, revealed his thoughts on the injury and the recovery timeline for Hader amid his shoulder strain.
"Joe Espada called Josh Hader's placement on the injured list a 'punch to the gut.'" Rome writes. "Hader is seeing doctors and receiving additional tests, so the team is still unsure of the severity of his shoulder strain or a timeline for his return."
Joe Espada called Josh Hader’s placement on the injured list a “punch to the gut.” Hader is seeing doctors and receiving additional tests, so the team is still unsure of the severity of his shoulder strain or a timeline for his return.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 12, 2025
This update from Espada is a concerning one, as not only are the Astros still uncertain of the severity, but the extra tests don't paint a positive picture. Typically, a player going for more tests doesn't bode well for their status.
If the diagnosis is negative and the Astros are to be without Hader for a while, then the Astros will be in trouble. Hader has been one of the best relievers in baseball this season, as he has a 2.05 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and 20 saves this season.
His most recent outing was a two-inning win over the New York Yankees, which went into extra innings. It was a gutsy performance, as he allowed just one hit and no runs across two innings, including with a ghost runner on second base.
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But now, Hader is set to miss some time, and this update from Espada doesn't bode well for his return. While he could return without missing too much time, the Astros will miss him dearly while he's out.
Losing one of the best closers in baseball for a while, the Astros will look to Bryan Abreu to lock things down in his place. He has a 1.67 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 53 appearances, and isn't a bad replacement.
With the Seattle Mariners tying the Astros atop the AL West, the Astros' missing Hader for an extended period will sting even more than it already does.
This update from Espada on Hader's timeline for his recovery is a concerning one. Hader is undergoing more tests on his shoulder, and the timeline for his recovery is uncertain.
For now, the Astros await the update on Hader, hoping for good news and a shorter recovery time for their All-Star closer.
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