ASTROS UPDATE
Houston Astros face unexpected challenge with key arm
Aug 12, 2025, 10:06 am
Josh Hader is having issues with his shoulder. Composite Getty Image.
Houston Astros’ All-Star closer Josh Hader was unavailable Monday night after experiencing shoulder discomfort.
Manager Joe Espada said after Houston’s 7-6 win over the Red Sox that the left-hander said “he just did not feel right” after a workout Monday and they sent him for testing.
“We’re waiting on those results and we should have something more tomorrow,” Espada said.
Espada didn’t specify which shoulder was bothering Hader.
Hader, who is in his second season in Houston, is 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and is tied for third in the majors with 28 saves in 48 appearances this season.
Who can fill the void?
If Hader continues to miss time, should the Astros look outside the organization? Former Astros closer Ryan Pressly is available after being released by the Cubs.
It seems like every former Astros is reuniting with the team this year, maybe Pressly can capitalize on the good hometown vibes. However, there's a reason he's available. His ERA this season is 4.35. Which may not sound horrible, but he did surrender eight runs in his final 5 appearances with Chicago.
Injury updates
Manager Joe Espada gave an update on Hader before Tuesday's game.
Joe Espada gives an update on Hader and the state of his bullpen pic.twitter.com/E1NBEwqvNX
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 12, 2025
MLB.com's Brian McTaggart shared some more injury updates in the post below.
Some updates from Espada:
- No word on the severity of Hader’s injury.
- Garcia will start in Sugar Land tomorrow and McCullers on Friday.
- Alvarez hit on the field today in Florida today and could take live BP this weekend.
- Meyers is getting close to getting into games…
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 12, 2025
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.