Although things have not gone well for the Houston Astros, they finally got some good news on Tuesday, June 2nd. The team activated closer Josh Hader from the 60-Day IL, and he is set to make his 2026 debut at some point during their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This marks the first time that Hader will take the big league mound since August of last season. Over the past nine months, Hader has been dealing with a capsule sprain and biceps tendinitis in his left shoulder.
This could not come at a better time for the Astros. Getting Hader back gives them the lockdown closer in the back of the bullpen. Shortening the game and making it easier to close out victories. Over his career, Hader has pitched to a 2.64 ERA over 512 1/3 innings with 227 saves, 829 strikeouts to 198 walks, a 0.94 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 160. This has earned him the honor of being one of the best closers in baseball. But is his return enough to save the Astros season?
Will Josh Hader Right the Ship for the Astros?
The Astros are in the middle of the worst season they have had in a long time. They are 27-34, which is good for 4th in the American League West. They are five games back of the first-place Seattle Mariners and two and a half behind the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays for the final wild card spot in the AL. They are currently on pace for 79 wins this season, which is the lowest mark since 2014. It would also be the first time they missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 2013-14.
Hader is going to be a welcome sight to the Astros bullpen, who have underachieved this season. As a group, they have posted a 4.65 ERA, which is the ninth-worst mark in the majors. They have also blown three saves this season. While this seems like a low number, had the Astros won those three games, they would be sitting in a playoff spot right now. Sure, it’s still early, and their record would still be under .500, but the feeling around the team would be better. They could easily take advantage of a weak American League.
While Hader will help the bullpen ERA and stop them from blowing games, it is not enough to turn the season around. They have many other problems besides the bullpen, specifically with the starting rotation. The rotation currently has an ERA of 4.48, which is tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the fifth-worst mark in baseball. They are also missing key guys like Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown due to injuries. They may be back soon, but it’s going to take them a few starts to get back to their usual selves. By then, it will be too late to turn it around.
Their offense is also being held up by the great season Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker are having. Outside of them, the offense has left a lot to be desired. They are also without key contributors Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. There is currently no timetable for Altuve’s return, and Correa is out for the rest of the season. With these two out for the long term, there are no offensive reinforcements on the horizon. The Astros need to hope that Alvarez and Walker stay hot and healthy; otherwise, their offense could take a nosedive.
The return of Hader may help the Astors bullpen and the team in the short term, but it’s not enough to turn the season around. It appears that Houston is heading for another lost season.
