{"id":121483,"date":"2026-05-08T11:21:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=121483"},"modified":"2026-05-08T11:21:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:21:06","slug":"astros-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/05\/08\/astros-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Good News for the Astros: Hader, Pe\u00f1a, Imai Appear in Favorable Injury Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

The hole to climb out of only seems to get deeper for the Houston Astros just over a month into the season. The most haunted word at the moment for the Astros is injuries. They have already piled up again.\u00a0<\/span>The Astros currently have 14 players on the injured list<\/a>. It felt like the club had made a sufficient amount of changes to address the injury concern, but the problem remains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Astros Injury News: Josh Hader Rehab & Jeremy Pe\u00f1a Return Dates<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Astros Injury Concerns Not Going Away<\/h2>\n

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It still is unclear whether this has been due to extremely terrible luck or the issues among the training staff for players to be healthy. One thing is for certain: Astros players have dealt with some freak injuries and poor timing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just when it seems like it couldn\u2019t get worse, it does. The Astros had just gotten a big win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, but in a shocking development the next morning, Carlos Correa<\/a> was announced to be out for the season with a torn left ankle tendon<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Astros Injury Situation Could Get Better<\/h2>\n

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Many believe that could be the final blow for Houston in 2026, but there are many reinforcements on the way this month. Even with the current 15-23 record, one of the worst in baseball, it\u2019s still possible for the Astros to get back on track. That starts with getting healthier. The state of the AL West helps out as well.\u00a0<\/span>The Astros are expected to have multiple key players return in May. Here are the latest Astros injury updates and expected returns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with All-Star closer Josh Hader<\/a>. According to the Astros injury list,<\/a> Hader is expected to return on May 24 from left biceps tendinitis. While he was initially placed on the IL on March 25, he was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 17. The soonest he can return in that case is May 24.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hader was diagnosed with the tendinitis at the start of spring training and has slowly built up his regimen. He missed the last two months of the 2025 season with a left shoulder capsule strain and needed to make sure everything was in good shape.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More on Josh Hader\u2019s Rehab Outing<\/h2>\n

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Hader had his first Minor League rehab outing on Tuesday, where he threw a scoreless outing for Triple-A Sugar Land. He threw 16 pitches total, with nine of them for strikes, while averaging 94 mph on his fastballs. Hader also had one strikeout and allowed one walk. It\u2019s like his spring training period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a good start for the 32-year-old, who the Astros desperately need at the back of the bullpen<\/a>. Hader was throwing bullpen sessions throughout his recovery and crossed 90 mph in them for the first time in his career. It looks like the velocity is approaching where it should be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Josh Hader’s 2026 debut!<\/p>\n

The @astros<\/a> closer works a scoreless frame and picks up a K in a rehab outing with the @SLSpaceCowboys<\/a> \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/Xm7KT42gFh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n