As they battle to fight off a charge from the surging Seattle Mariners, the Houston Astros have managed to hold on to what is now just a one-game lead in the American League West.
After an announcement by manager Joe Espada on Monday, the Astros’ chances of a fifth straight division title — ninth straight, discounting the abbreviated 2020 season — suddenly looked much dimmer.
Six-time All-Star closer Josh Hader has saved 28 games for the Astros this season, and did not blow a save until July 12, against the Texas Rangers in Hader’s 40th appearance. That remains his only blown save so far.
Of Houston’s 67 wins prior to Tuesday’s home game against the Boston Red Sox, Hader has pitched in 42 of them.
“Losing him for any length of time would be a crippling blow,” wrote Athletic Astros correspondent Chandler Rome late Monday night.
But losing Hader is exactly what the Astros are potentially looking at, after Espada announced that the nine-year veteran was unavailable to pitch in the season opener Monday against the Red Sox due to what the manager described as “shoulder discomfort.”
The southpaw was set to undergo tests on the shoulder Monday, but the Astros had not announced any results as of Tuesday morning.
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Since being swept by Boston in a three-game Fenway Park set, the Astros have stepped on the gas, winning five of seven. But Hader has not pitched since last Friday, when he threw two innings against the New York Yankees in what ended as a 10-inning victory for Houston.
That outing was Hader’s second two-inning stint in eight appearances, and just his fourth of the year. He was not been called upon to throw multiple innings at all between April 8 and July 19.
Hader has now pitched 52 2/3 innings, after throwing 71 last season — his highest total since his 75 2/3 inning 2019 season. He has now pitched 180 innings over his last three seasons, Hader’s highest three-year total since logging 204 2/3 in the first three years of his career, 2017-2019, with the Milwaukee Brewers.
But Hader is now 31 years old, compared to those initial three seasons which took him from age 23 to 25.
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On Monday, with the Astros leading 7-6, two outs in the ninth inning and a runner on second base, Espada brought in lefty Bennett Sousa to face Red Sox Rookie of the Year candidate Roman Anthony — exactly the type of lefty vs. lefty matchup tailor-made for Hader.
Sousa fanned Anthony to end the Red Sox’ threat and nail down the save.
If Hader misses significant time, the Astros will need numerous performances just like that one from Sousa and their other relievers if they hope to keep their grip on the division title, and possibly even a playoff spot as well.
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