Astros Announce Josh Hader Update Before Yankees Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 3:30 PM ET

The Houston Astros bullpen took a massive hit in mid-August when six-time All-Star closer Josh Hader went down with a left shoulder capsule strain, landing on the 15-day injured list.

The 31-year-old left-hander was in the midst of another excellent season—his second with the Astros—posting a 2.05 ERA, converting 28 of 29 save opportunities and striking out 76 hitters in just 52.2 innings, a true weapon for Houston.

Hader signed a five-year $95 million contract with the Astros in January 2024 after spending the first eight seasons of his career in separate stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres. His deal is the second highest ever given to a relief pitcher, trailing only Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets.

Josh Hader Injury Update

On Friday, August 15, the Astros announced that Hader would be shut down from throwing for approximately three weeks before being reexamined and evaluated for a potential ramp-up.

As of Tuesday, September 2, ahead of the Astros’ series opener with the Yankees, the trainer’s room revealed that Hader had still not resumed throwing. With less than a month left in the regular season, the latest update suggests his return will likely not come before October.

Astros injury updates pic.twitter.com/eC6wWNQMB9
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 2, 2025

Entering Tuesday, the Astros hold a three-game lead in the AL West over the second-place Seattle Mariners and have a strong likelihood of making the playoffs.

However, the team is still feeling the effects of Hader’s absence, going 8–9 since his injury while leaning heavily on the bullpen—a concerning trend heading into the postseason.

Hader has proven to be an elite playoff riser throughout his career, making his return all the more important. He owns a 1.64 ERA with 33 strikeouts and five saves in 18 postseason appearances.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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