37 articles
HOU • Pitcher • #71
2 days ago
Brown continued that they believe that Hader is “on course to come back and be there for Opening Day.” Hader was placed on the IL on August 12 with a shoulder strain and was unable to return to the mound. Bryan Abreu filled in as the team’s closer, but will likely return to a high-leverage stopper role. Hader was electric when healthy in 2025, but considering Hader opted not to have surgery this offseason, he does come with some elevated risk in 2026.
Source: Houston Chronicle
HOU • Pitcher • #71
7 days ago
Hader, 31, missed the final six-plus weeks with a strain in his left shoulder. Brown told reporters that the stopper was “progressing well” in his recovery. There’s a good chance Hander will be ready to roll for the start of the 2026 season, assuming no setbacks.
Source: Chandler Rome
HOU • Pitcher • #71
about 2 months ago
Astros manager Joe Espada said Hader underwent imaging earlier this week that showed healing in his left shoulder, but he hasn’t been cleared to resume throwing. The 31-year-old closer appears unlikely to be ready when the postseason kicks off next week, should Houston manage to get there.
Source: Chandler Rome
HOU • Pitcher • #71
2 months ago
Today marks the five-week mark since Hader was shut down with a shoulder strain. With just two weeks to go, he’s definitely not a candidate to return during the regular season.
Source: Matt Kawahara
HOU • Pitcher • #71
3 months ago
Hader elaborated that it would take him at least three weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina following a three-week shutdown, which doesn’t leave any time for him to return before the regular season wraps up in exactly six weeks. The 31-year-old All-Star closer hit the injured list earlier this week with a left shoulder strain. It’s a brutal development for managers heading into the fantasy playoffs, but it’s a positive update that he won’t require surgery. His extended absence elevates Bryan Abreu to the closer role in Houston with Bennett Sousa likely to vulture the occasional save chance.
Source: Chandler Rome
HOU • Pitcher • #71
3 months ago
Espada wouldn’t reveal what the first opinion revealed, but it probably wasn’t good news. Bryan Abreu just might be a top-10 fantasy closer for the rest of the year.
Source: Brian McTaggert
HOU • Pitcher • #71
3 months ago
This seemed like an inevitability after Astros’ manager Joe Espada’s comments to the media on Monday night. We still don’t have word yet on the severity of the strain — or on how much time the Astros’ closer may miss due to the injury. Bryan Abreu seems like the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy perspective, as he should step into the ninth-inning role with Hader sidelined. He makes for a strong addition in all fantasy formats.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
3 months ago
That’s something that fantasy managers would have loved to have known prior to locking in lineups for the week. Hader underwent testing on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, the results of those tests are not yet known. He’s considered day-to-day for the time being, but the Astros aren’t likely to take any chances with their prized southpaw — especially when it’s arm-related. Look for another update from Espada and company on Tuesday.
Source: Jose de Jesus Ortiz
HOU • Pitcher • #71
3 months ago
Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa worked the ninth, with Sousa getting a one-out save. Hader hasn’t worked since throwing 36 pitches on Friday, so something is definitely wrong here. The Astros will probably have to cop to it in the upcoming postgame interviews,
HOU • Pitcher • #71
4 months ago
Hader took the mound in the top of the ninth to close out the game against the Nationals with a three-run lead. He made easy work of the top of Washington’s lineup, striking out the side on 13 pitches for his 28th save.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
4 months ago
Hader has been uncharacteristically wild of late, but he walked none and struck out two today. He’s first in the AL and second in the majors in saves. His successor in San Diego, Robert Suarez, has 29.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
4 months ago
Hader did see the tying run reach the plate, but he was able to get Josh Naylor to fly out to right field to end the threat. He’s now up to 26 saves on the season, and the scoreless frame lowers his ERA to 2.36 over 46 2/3 innings. Hader has struggled in July, so fantasy managers should be concerned but relieved he was able to avoid giving up a run; something he had done in three straight appearances.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
4 months ago
Hader looked like he was going to breeze through the outing to pick up a save, but instead blew his second-straight game when he allowed a solo homer against Kyle Higashioka. Yes, that Kyle Higashioka. He’s now allowed runs in three of his last four appearances, and his 1.67 ERA entering July is now up to 2.53. There’s no reason to panic just yet, but there’s every reason to be disappointed in those results as of late.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
4 months ago
Hader came on to work the top of the ninth inning with the score tied at 6-6 and Hader worked around a two-out single to work a scoreless frame. He returned for the 10th though after the Astros failed to score in the ninth and that’s where trouble ensued. After a sacrifice bunt to start the inning, Jose Ramirez was walked intentionally. Carlos Santana then worked a walk to load the bases. Hader rallied to strike out Johnathan Rodriguez before Angel Martinez crushed an unlikely, two-out, go-ahead grand slam. Hader has still yet to blow a save in 25 chances on the season, though this was his first defeat.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader was brought in to face pinch-hitter Michael Conforto in the eighth, but he wound up facing Esteury Ruiz instead and struck him out. He then allowed only a Shohei Ohtani single during the ninth. Hader is all alone in first place in the majors in saves, one ahead of Carlos Estévez and Robert Suarez.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader was summoned in the bottom of the ninth against the Rockies to close out the game with a two-run lead. He gave up a solo homer to Hunter Goodman to cut the lead to one before striking out the final two batters to convert his 24th save.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader was summoned in the ninth to close out the game and complete the shutout of the Cubs with a two-run lead. He struck out one batter in a perfect inning to convert his 23rd save of the season. Hader holds a sparkling 1.67 ERA over 37 2/3 innings.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
The Astros were certainly disappointed to call on Hader since they were leading this game 7-0 after the fourth inning, but their middle relievers let the Cubs get back into this game. Hader made quick work of Ian Happ to close it out though to tie the league-lead with his 22nd save of the season.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader has picked up saves in three straight wins for the Astros, and now is up to 21 on the season. The southpaw threw just 8-of-16 pitches for strikes, but he didn’t walk anyone while also adding a strikeout. Hader remains an elite closing option as seen in a 1.73 ERA and 21 saves in 2025.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
The flame-throwing left-hander struck out Otto Kemp to begin the inning before plunking Edmundo Sosa to put the tying run on base. Not to worry though, as he got Buddy Kennedy to pop out to first base and then punched out J.T. Realmuto to end it. Hader picked up his 20th save of the season for his efforts and he has yet to blow a single save opportunity this season while registering a brilliant 1.78 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a 55/7 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader came on with a two-run lead to protect in the ninth inning but made things a bit more interesting as he surrendered a leadoff homer to pinch-hitter Zach Neto. He battled back to strike out Christian Moore and Luis Rengifo before allowing a two-out double to Nolan Schanuel that put the tying run in scoring position. Hader then got Mike Trout to line out to center to end the ballgame. Hader has been outstanding this season, registering a 1.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and a 53/7 K/BB ratio across 34 1/3 innings of work while notching five wins and converting each of his first 19 save opportunities.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader was given the ball in a 2-2 game and then got the win after the Astros walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. He’s 3-0 and a perfect 18-for-18 saving games, and it’d be a big surprise if he fails to become an All-Star for the sixth time next month.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
5 months ago
Hader came on with a two-run lead to protect in the ninth and immediately gave one back on a solo blast off the bat of Mike Tauchman. He then rebounded to get the next two hitters before giving up a two-out double to Miguel Vargas to put the tying run in scoring position. Not to worry though as he struck out Austin Slater on a called third strike to end the ballgame. He has been as good as ever this season, registering a 1.55 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and a 45/7 K/BB ratio over 29 innings while converting each of his first 18 save opportunities.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
6 months ago
The 31-year-old southpaw needed just 12 pitches (nine strikes) to get the job done in this one, getting Carlos Santana on strikes, Daniel Schneemann on a ground ball to second base and Gabriel Arias on a swinging third strike to end it. For the season, Hader holds an outstanding 1.33 ERA, 0.70 WHIP and a 41/6 K/BB ratio over 27 innings to go with 17 saves in 17 opportunities.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
6 months ago
Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to pick up his 15th save. The 31-year-old left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.44 in the process. Hader is still one of the elite closers in fantasy baseball this year.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
6 months ago
Hader was summoned in the ninth to close out the game with a one-run lead against the Mariners. He worked around one hit, striking out the side to slam the door on Seattle for his 13th save of the season. The 31-year-old left-hander has posted a 1.57 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and a 32/5 K/BB ratio across 23 innings.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
6 months ago
Hader got the call to protect a one-run lead in the final frame after throwing 17 pitches on Sunday to pick up a save against the division-rival Rangers. He got into trouble right away when dynamic rookie speedster Chandler Simpson was put on base by a catcher’s interference call. He got Curtis Mead to ground out before Simpson stole third base, putting the potential tying run 90 feet away with only one out. He managed to retire both Taylor Walls and Ben Rortvedt to somehow escape the frame unscathed and preserve the victory.
HOU • Pitcher • #71
6 months ago
Hader didn’t allow a single baserunner while striking out two in the outing. He now has 11 saves on the season to go along with a 1.80 ERA. He has maybe been the steadiest reliever in fantasy right now.