HOUSTON — Just as the Astros are getting some arms back, they are down another one in All-Star closer Josh Hader, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a left shoulder strain. Hader had been experiencing some shoulder discomfort and was not available to pitch in Monday’s 7-6 win over the Red Sox.
Right-handed reliever Shawn Dubin was reinstated from the 15-day IL and left-hander Colton Gordon was recalled from Triple A, while veteran reliever Hector Neris was designated for assignment.
Hader threw a season-high 36 pitches in two innings against the Yankees on Friday in New York and warmed up towards the end of Sunday’s win but didn’t get into the game. It was his seventh multi-inning appearance of the season.
“He walked in and he was doing his [plyometrics] before doing his throwing program and just did not feel right,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We went ahead and got some testing done, and we’re waiting on the results and should know something more tomorrow.”
In his second year of a five-year, $95 million contract, Hader has 28 saves and a 2.05 ERA in 48 games for Houston this year. Among American League relievers, he ranked second in saves and was tied for second in strikeouts entering Monday. He began the year by converting his first 25 save chances, a club record.
The Astros tried to acquire a reliever at the Trade Deadline, but wound up not adding any arms. They did sign veteran Enyel De Los Santos to a Major League contract on Thursday, and he threw a scoreless inning Monday in his Houston debut.
