Josh Hader may be the linchpin holding the Houston Astros‘ championship hopes together. But Astros fans instead are holding their breath about Hader’s status for the rest of the year.
The Astros confirmed Hader was unavailable for their game Monday against the Boston Red Sox after he had tests on his throwing shoulder due to the closer’s left-shoulder discomfort.
Hader is tied for third in the majors with 28 saves this season for the first-place Astros, who are narrowly holding off the hard-charging Seattle Mariners for the AL West lead. Houston holds just a one-game edge over Seattle atop the division.
What Is Josh Hader’s Injury?
Hader has been pitching a lot, mainly because he has been exceptional for the Astros. He was an All-Star this season, his 13 Ks/9 innings rate is sixth-best in the majors, and he boasts a 2.05 ERA in 52 2/3 innings, which are second-most among primary major-league closers.
Yet, when Hader was working out before the Astros‘ return home, he was not able to get loose, which is when the Astros ordered tests.
“He walked in today and he was doing his [plyometrics] before doing his throwing program and just did not feel right,” Astros manager Joe Espada said, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. “We went ahead and got some testing done, and we’re waiting on the results and should know something more tomorrow.”
Hader last pitched Friday when he threw two innings of relief in Houston’s 5-3 win in 10 innings over the Yankees. It was his seventh multi-inning outing of the season, and he threw a season-high 36 pitches.
He warmed up to enter Sunday’s game, a 7-1 Houston win, but did not get in the game.
What Will The Astros Do At Closer If Josh Hader Is Out?
The Astros have the fourth-best bullpen ERA in the majors (3.35) according to FanGraphs. So even though a Hader injury would be disastrous, and the club was unable to add a high-leverage reliever at the trade deadline, Houston seems more capable of weathering the storm than other clubs.
On Monday the Astros mixed and matched through the late innings, in which they nearly blew a 7-2 lead and held off the red-hot Red Sox 7-6 in the opener of a three-game set at Daikin Park.
After Hector Neris gave up three runs in 2/3 of an inning in the top of the seventh to slice Houston’s edge, then Steven Eckert surrendered another in the run to narrow the gap further, Espada tasked Enyel De Los Santos for the eighth inning.
Yet, after Jeremy Pena booted what could have been the final out on Connor Wong’s handleable ground ball, Espada went to Bennett Sousa. He struck out Roman Anthony for the final out of the game, nailing down a win in which Houston did not have either of Hader or reserve closer Bryan Abreu.
“I trust this bullpen,” Espada said. “These guys have been good for us the whole entire year and we need them.
“Today was a perfect example. De Los Santos coming in the game in a big spot and Sousa coming in and getting one of the best lefty hitters in the league. … Everybody contributed.”
Astros Receive Bad News On Important Relief Pitcher