As they head into the home stretch of the 2025 season, chasing their fifth consecutive American League West pennant and eighth in the last nine years, they are under serious threat from the Seattle Mariners. Winning eight in a row, the Mariners pulled even in the division with Houston before dropping their last two to fall 1 1/2 games behind, with 40 left to play.
As late as July 23, just 20 games ago, the Astros held a six-game lead in the division over Seattle.
Pennant Chase Gets More Difficult
But for the Astros, the battle to hold on got significantly more difficult on Friday, when they received news about their closer, 31-year-old Josh Hader. In just the second season of his five-year, $95 million free agent contract with the Astros, Hader had played an indispensable role in the Astros race to the playoffs, saving 28 games against only one blown save opportunity.
Hader had also recorded six wins against just two losses, meaning he had played a pivotal role in 34 of the Astros’ 68 victories.
But the dominant lefty who was instrumental in 50 percent of all Astros wins this season will not be pitching for Houston any time soon, and could be done for the season. Hader was placed on the injured list Tuesday, and on Friday the Astros announced that the nine year veteran has been diagnosed with a “shoulder capsule strain.”
What is a Shoulder Capsule Strain?
What does that mean? For the Astros, the bottom line is — according to the team announcement — that Hader will not even pick up a baseball to throw for at least three weeks. Once that time period is up, the next steps will be determined,” the team announced, per MLB.com.
The shoulder “capsule” is a fluid-filled membrane that surrounds the shoulder joint and lubricates it, allowing the muscles, bones and ligaments to move smoothly and with comfort.
But when the membrane, that is the “capsule,” becomes pinched or somehow tightened it causes pain and restricted movement in the shoulder. Treatment for the injury generally involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatories and other techniques to bring down swelling. In rare cases, surgery is required.
From 19th-Round Pick to Dominant Closer
Hader was an unheralded draft pick in 2012, going to the Baltimore Orioles in the 19th round. The O’s traded Hader to the Astros the following year, but he never pitched in the Major Leagues for Houston, at least not at that time.
Two years after that, the Astros traded Hader to the Milwaukee Brewers, were he started to progress quickly, needing just another two years to make his big league debut and quickly become one of the most reliable closers in the game. In six years with Milwaukee he saved 125 games while failing to convert on only 20 opportunities. He has been selected to All-Star teams six times.
Astros 4th-Most Expensive Player
The Brewers traded Hader to the San Diego Padres in 2022 with just one year remaining on his contract. After the 2023 season, Hader signed a free agent deal with Houston.
With an annual salary of $19 million, Hader is the fourth-most expensive player on the team — behind only Carlos Correa ($37.3 million in 2025), Jose Altuve ($33 million) and Christian Walker ($20 million).
One week ago in a game against the New York Yankees, Hader threw 36 pitches over two innings. That was the last time he pitched, reporting discomfort in his shoulder on Monday before hitting the IL the day after that.
Astros Learn Troubling New Information on Fate of $95 Million 6-Time All-Star