MLB Rumors: Red Sox Rival Faces Major Bullpen Problem With Injury Scare

Buried in the boxscore of the Boston Red Sox’s 7-6 loss Monday to the Houston Astros was the person manager Joe Espada picked to close the door in the ninth inning.

Left-hander Bennett Sousa struck out Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony to pick up his fourth save of the season. So where was Astros closer Josh Hader?

The Houston Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara reported Monday Hader was unavailable with what Espada called shoulder “discomfort.”

“He walked in today and he was doing his [plyometrics] before doing his throwing program and just did not feel right,” Espada said, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart. “We went ahead and got some testing done, and we’re waiting on the results and should know something more (Tuesday).”

Hader is a big reason why the Astros sit in first place in the American League West. He is tied for third in the majors with 28 saves this season.

It’s possible Hader is suffering from just a bit of wear and tear rather than a season-altering injury.

“In his previous game on Friday, Hader threw a season-high 36 pitches over two innings of work, getting the win in the Astros’ ten-inning 5-3 result over the Yankees,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Mark Polishuk wrote Monday. “He has topped the 30-pitch threshold just four times in 48 games this season, and only seven times pitched more than a single inning. 

“With this in mind, it could be that Hader is just a little sore in the aftermath of that longer outing in New York, and needs a bit more recovery time,” Polishuk added.

The Astros certainly need Hader for the stretch run, with the surging Seattle Mariners sitting in second place in the AL West, just one game back.

The 31-year-old southpaw joined Houston in 2024, signing a five-year, $95 million contract.

Hader, a six-time All-Star, made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers, who sent him to the San Diego Padres before the 2022 MLB trade deadline.