Josh Hader Fantasy Stats

Houston Astros All-Star left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) said on Monday that his left shoulder feels fully recovered after he finished the 2025 season on the injured list, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Hader said that he finished his rehab from a shoulder capsule strain several weeks ago and is optimistic about having a normal build-up heading into spring training in February. He threw from a mound "a few times" during his rehab and was "up to just about over 85 mph." The hard-throwing southpaw threw more than an inning in seven of a career-high 71 regular-season appearances in 2024 and had seven such outings in 2025. Hader said he'll remain open to going more than an inning of work going into the third season of his five-year, $95 million deal with Houston. Before his shoulder injury, Hader was his usual dominant self, posting a 2.05 ERA while going 28-for-29 in save chances.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said at the GM meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday that left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) has thrown off a mound three times and is "progressing well," according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Hader's 2025 season ended early in the middle of August after he strained his left shoulder. Although it's unclear if the 31-year-old six-time All-Star will be ready for the start of spring training in mid-February, he should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback. Before his injury in August, Hader was once again one of the more dominant closers in fantasy baseball, posting a 6-2 record, 2.05 ERA (3.25 FIP), 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He now has 227 saves in his nine-year MLB career, including 62 the last two years in Houston.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (shoulder) underwent imaging this week that showed his injured left shoulder "is healing," according to manager Joe Espada. However, Hader is not ready to resume throwing. The star southpaw has been on the 15-day injured list with a capsule strain retroactive to Aug. 11. The Astros announced back then that they'd shut Hader down from throwing for roughly three weeks beginning Aug. 15. While they're just about at the end of that period, it's unclear when Hader will resume throwing. The 31-year-old has been considered a long shot to come back during the regular season since he went on the IL, but he and the Astros have held out hope for a return in the playoffs. The Astros have a four-game lead in the AL West thanks in part to Hader's brilliant work. Before landing on the shelf, he posted a 2.05 ERA with a .85 WHIP, 76:16 K:BB, and 28 saves in 29 changes over 52 2/3 innings. Bryan Abreu has recorded four of the Astros' six saves in Hader's absence.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (shoulder) is unlikely to return in the regular season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. Hader, who went on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 11 with a left shoulder capsule strain, is now in the early stages of a three-week break from throwing. The 31-year-old is holding out hope that he'll be able to ramp up for a postseason return, but he'll likely be limited to a one-inning role if he does. Assuming Hader's regular season is over, his sixth All-Star campaign will wrap up with sparkling numbers across the board. He put up a 2.05 ERA with a .85 WHIP, 76:16 K:BB, and 28 saves in 29 chances over 52 2/3 innings. While manager Joe Espada said earlier this week that he wouldn't name a full-time closer in Hader's absence, Bryan Abreu looks like a logical replacement. The righty logged his first save on Wednesday in a win over the Boston Red Sox, and like Hader, he has posted elite numbers. Abreu owns a 1.64 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP, 81 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 55 frames.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader (shoulder) has a "left shoulder capsule strain," according to the team, and won't throw for "approximately three weeks." After that, Hader's next steps will be determined. The Astros placed the 31-year-old veteran southpaw on the 15-day injured list this week, but he won't be back when he's eligible to return and won't return to the big-league roster until September. In the meantime, right-hander Bryan Abreu will serve as the club's primary ninth-inning option after picking up his first save of the season on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Losing Hader for an extended period is a tough blow for the Astros' bullpen as they try to hold off the Seattle Mariners for the lead in the American League West division. Hader has been strong once again in 2025 with a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves and 76 K's in 52 2/3 innings pitched.

Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) landed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-shoulder strain and is expected to miss more than two weeks. Manager Joe Espada did not anoint a fill-in closer on Tuesday and hasn't established specific roles for the back end of the bullpen with Hader out. "I'm not naming (anyone) for the ninth, naming (anyone) for the eighth," Espada said. Bennett Sousa got the save over the Boston Red Sox on Monday when Hader was unavailable, but the favorite for the majority of the save opportunities in Houston with Hader out will be Bryan Abreu. However, Espada indicated the team could mix and match in the late innings without Hader, who has converted 28 of his 29 save chances in 2025. Abreu has pitched very well in a setup role this year, and his nine career saves are the most among the rest of the group. If Abreu is still available on your league's waiver wire, pick him up immediately.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a left-shoulder strain. On Wednesday, Astros' manager Joe Espada said Hader will seek a second opinion on his left shoulder strain. He continued by saying that Hader will be out longer than two weeks. The team didn't reveal what the first diagnosis was, but it was bad enough for the southpaw to get another opinion. It's unclear if fantasy managers are going to get anything from Hader the rest of the way. That being said, Bryan Abreu figures to be the favorite for saves in Houston going forward. He should be rostered in most fantasy formats where saves matter.

The Houston Astros announced on Tuesday that they placed left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 11) with a left-shoulder strain. The team also reinstated right-hander Shawn Dubin (forearm) from the 15-day IL, recalled left-hander Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land and designated right-hander Hector Neris for assignment. Hader, one of the top closers in baseball, was unavailable in Monday's series opener against the Boston Red Sox and will now miss at least two weeks. The 31-year-old All-Star should be stashed in all fantasy formats, and hopefully he'll be back when eligible on Aug. 26. Bennett Sousa ended up getting the save on Monday over Boston, but the favorite for most of the save opportunities with Hader out will be right-hander Bryan Abreu. Abreu doesn't have any saves this year, but he has a stingy 1.67 ERA and 13.2 K/9 mark.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said after Monday's 7-6 win over the Red Sox that closer Josh Hader (shoulder) was unavailable to close out the game due to shoulder discomfort, and that he will be undergoing tests. While fantasy managers should wait for more definitive news, it is always worrying to hear about shoulder issues for pitchers. Hader has been excellent once again this season, converting 28 of 29 save opportunities with a 2.05 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and a 36.9% strikeout rate in 52 2/3 innings of work. Bennett Sousa picked up his fourth save of the season in Hader's absence, and he has pitched well with a 2.64 ERA and a 10.20 K/9 rate. The Astros also have Bryan Abreu, who has been outstanding but has been utilized mostly in the eighth inning. As such, Sousa may be fantasy managers' best bet for saves should Hader have to miss any time.

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader has now converted 25 straight saves to begin the 2025 season. Hader held the Dodgers scoreless over 1 1/3 innings and 24 pitches on Saturday to close out a 6-4 win. He entered with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and runners on first and second, and struck out Esteury Ruiz to end the threat. Hader gave up a leadoff single to Shohei Ohtani in the ninth, but he retired the next three batters and notched his second strikeout along the way. The 31-year-old left-hander owns spectacular numbers across the board, having pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 61:7 K:BB and a 0.73 WHIP in 40 innings.