Astros' Josh Hader sets record straight on pitching restrictions, closer role
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31 January 2024
Hader goes on the record about pitching restrictions. Composite Getty Image.
After the Houston Astros signed Josh Hader to a 5-year $95 million contract, several questions started surfacing about how he will be used on his new club.
He and Ryan Pressly have said all the right things regarding who will pitch the 9th inning. It seems both players just want to win and appear okay with however manager Joe Espada plans to deploy them.
Hader shed even more light on his usage when he joined MLB Network this week. When asked about his pitching restrictions, Hader said the arbitration system is why he chose to “protect” himself and only pitch one inning per outing.
“The arbitration system told me the traditional role of a closer is where the value is [with] relievers… I was told to my face what you’re doing is not worth it. So at the end of the day I had to protect myself, because if I don’t, the team isn’t going to protect me for the long term.”
Hader also went on to say the “playoffs are a different beast,” so workload wasn't something he was concerned about in the postseason, “it's all hands on deck.”
Now that we got that out of the way, be sure to watch the video above as Hader talks in-depth about joining the Houston Astros and the one thing missing from his resume, a World Series title.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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