{"id":105985,"date":"2025-08-18T00:45:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T04:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=105985"},"modified":"2025-08-18T00:45:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T04:45:36","slug":"josh-hader-latest-injury-impact-astros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/08\/18\/josh-hader-latest-injury-impact-astros\/","title":{"rendered":"What Closer’s Latest Injury Means for the Houston Astros"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the Houston Astros continue to get healthier with the stretch run of the regular season in full swing, yet another injury has gotten in the way of their division crown hopes. All-Star closer Josh Hader<\/a> suffered a left capsule shoulder strain injury this past Monday. Hader has been shut down and will not throw for about three weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Aug 5, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader (71) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The $95 million man threw a two-inning save on a season-high 36 pitches on Aug. 8 against the New York Yankees and was ready to go two days later, but was ultimately not needed. Hader then felt some shoulder discomfort on Monday and could not come in and close the series opener against the Boston Red Sox. It is quite possible that the additional strain of throwing that outing in the Bronx, as well as his high number of multiple-inning outings, has caused something like this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Josh Hader’s Latest Injury Impacts the Astros<\/h2>\n

Will Hader Come Back This Season?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to multiple reports from Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> and Chandler Rome of The Athletic<\/a>, the two-time All-Star is aiming for a potential postseason return. This would also likely be only one-inning outings, not multiple innings like Hader has done in the past several times with Houston. His time of getting five or six outs for the Astros will likely be over for 2025 and even beyond. Hader will take three weeks of throwing build-up after recovering from this injury, which means only a postseason return is possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the best relievers in the game, Hader has a 6-2 record with a 2.05 ERA in 52 2\/3 innings pitched. The 31-year-old <\/b>has converted 28 of 29 save opportunities <\/b>this year, along with 78 strikeouts and a 0.854 WHIP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a big setback for the Astros, whose bullpen has looked more susceptible recently. With all the other injuries, it seems to be adding up on the team, but Houston is getting back some starting pitching arms, such as Luis Garcia<\/a> and Lance McCullers Jr.<\/a>, that will help.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Josh Hader update, per @brianmctaggart<\/a> \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n

\u201cJosh Hader said it would take him three weeks to build up after not throwing for the next three weeks, so don\u2019t expect to see him in the regular season. Playoffs remain a possibility.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/OS8vOBClpL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SleeperAstros (@SleeperAstros) August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n