Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader picked up the save on Thursday, closing the doors on the Mets in a 3-1 victory. It wasn't a flawless inning by any means, as he allowed one run on two hits and one walk. Early season rust aside, Hader should continue to be one of the game's most dominant closers. In 2024, he collected 34 saves while posting a 3.80 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 71 innings. He did need 35 pitches to finish the frame, so don't be surprised if he is unavailable out of the pen for the next game or two.
Josh Hader Looking To Simplify His Movements, Bolster Changeup
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader said that he's trying to simplify and limit his movements before his windup to the plate this year. "Not really with my mechanics, but just the initial coming set," Hader said. "That's where a lot of things can be picked up by hitters, when you're coming set. You tend to do certain things on certain pitches. Just trying to limit any tell that I could." Additionally, the hard-throwing 30-year-old southpaw is working on making his changeup a bigger part of his arsenal. Of his 1,166 pitches in 2024, Hader threw only 12 changeups, with 11 coming to right-handed hitters. Other than giving up 12 homers in his first year in Houston in 2024, Hader was a pretty dominant closer with 34 saves and a 79.1 percent share of his team's saves. He also led all relievers with 105 strikeouts, and his 37.8% strikeout rate ranked third. Consider Hader a top-five fantasy closer in 2025.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader got back on track in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Mariners, earning a four-out save. Hader came in to pitch the top of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and runners on first and third. He got the third out with a strikeout and stayed in to pitch the ninth, delivering a 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts. The 30-year-old closed the door on an American League West division title, just one outing after yielding four runs while recording just one out. Hader has not performed as well as he had earlier in his career, but he has still racked up 34 saves with a 3.60 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and a 13.37 K/9 rate in 70 innings of work. Given his job security and strong offense backing him, he should remain a high-end fantasy option for the foreseeable future.
Houston Astros left-hander Josh Hader earned the win in his team's 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 10 innings on Wednesday. Hader threw two scoreless innings while striking out three and not allowing a baserunner. The star closer came on in the ninth inning with the game tied 1-1 and stuck around to post a scoreless bottom of the 10th to pick up the win. One of the most dominant fantasy closers in baseball, Hader now has a 5-6 record, 3.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 26 saves, and 82 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings of work this season.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader amassed his 21st save of the season in Wednesday night's win at Minute Maid Park over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning. Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen grounded out to second baseman Jose Altuve for the final out of Wednesday's series finale, but Hader did allow the tying run to get aboard via a Jared Triolo single during the ninth inning. The 30-year-old star closer has been shaky all year long as Houston's go-to stopper, concluding the month of July with a 5.23 ERA in 10 1/3 innings. However, Hader converted each of his save opportunities and fanned 14 batters with a 0.97 WHIP in his latest 12 appearances.
Houston Astros left-hander Josh Hader got the final three outs to preserve a 3-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Hader needed just 11 pitches to get through the ninth inning while striking out one and not allowing any baserunners. The star closer now has a 3-5 record, 3.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 19 saves, and 68 strikeouts over 43 innings of work this season. Despite a higher-than-usual ERA, Hader remains an elite fantasy closer thanks to his high strikeout rate and frequent save chances.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader didn't pitch a clean outing but did convert his 13th save of the season in Monday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Hader came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on a strikeout and fly-out, allowed a solo home run, and got the final out on a pop-out. The 30-year-old has now converted all but one save opportunity with a 3.82 ERA, a 14.34 K/9 rate, and a 2.63 BB/9 rate in 37 2/3 innings pitched. His ERA has been higher than fantasy managers would expect, but he has done a good job limiting walks. Ultimately, Hader's skillset is still that of a top fantasy option, but he has surprisingly not had a ton of save opportunities due to the Astros' overall mediocre performance.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader picked up his ninth save of the season in Monday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals. Hader came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by three and turned in a 1-2-3 performance with a strikeout. The 30-year-old has been solid this season, converting all but one of his save opportunities. His 14.46 K/9 rate is what fantasy managers have come to expect, although his 3.54 ERA and .302 BABIP are not at the elite level he has shown over his career. The good news is that he has allowed just two runs since the beginning of May and has maintained high strikeout skills, so fantasy managers have nothing to worry about.
Houston Astros reliever Josh Hader retired three of the four batters he faced on the way to his fifth save of the season in Friday's 5-2 win against the Detroit Tigers. Hader allowed one walk while striking out two as 10 of his 17 pitches went for strikes. Friday marked the fifth time in his last six outings that Hader did not allow a run, lowering his ERA to 5.29. He has struck out 11 batters in his last 7 1/3 innings, a sign that the free agent acquisition is returning to his All-Star form. Overall, Hader owns a 5.29 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 27:8 K: BB across 17 innings in 2024.
Houston Astros closer Josh Hader secured Thursday's save, recording four outs with one strikeout for his fourth save of the season in the 4-3 win over the New York Yankees. Hader relieved Ryan Pressly in the eighth inning and got lefty-hitter Anthony Rizzo to pop out to end the frame. Gleyber Torres lined a single to get the tying run aboard in the ninth, but Hader managed to sit down the next three hitters in order. It was awful start to the year for Hader in his Astros debut season, but he's gotten back on track with a 2.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP while striking out 14, walking three, and converting each of his three save opportunities over his last seven appearances (8 1/3 innings). It looks like the 30-year-old three-time National League Reliever of the Year's buy-low window in fantasy has closed for the time being.
Josh Hader
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Astros
