Astros Reveal Ominous Update on Josh Hader's Injury Timeline

After watching their division rival Seattle Mariners have the best trade deadline in the American League, and then ride an eight-game winning streak to tie them for first place in the AL West Division, the Houston Astros have been dealt a brutal blow with elite closer Josh Hader going on the injured list.

But it gets worse. On Wednesday, Astros manager Joe Espada revealed that the shoulder injury could be worse than expected, and Hader is getting a "second opinion." Yikes. That's very rarely a good sign.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Josh Hader is seeking a second opinion for his shoulder strain, but there’s no word on what the first opinion said.

“This is going to take a little bit longer than the two weeks,” he said.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 13, 2025

“This is going to take a little bit longer than the two weeks,” Espada said.

Other than saying that, there is obviously no timeline for when Hader could return from the shoulder strain that landed him on the 15-day IL on Tuesday.

Hader is having another All-Star season (his 6th in his nine-year career), with 28 saves, a 2.05 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP and a 76:16 strikeout to walk ratio in 52.2 innings. He's whiffing batters at a 13 K/9 rate.

In the meantime, Espada will be going with a closer-by-committee. Bennett Sousa was called on for his 4th save on Monday night.