Josh Hader will seek a second medical opinion on his left shoulder strain after being placed on the 15-day IL, a move that will extend beyond two weeks and potentially reshape Houston’s late-inning strategy. Manager Joe Espada made clear there will be space for doctors to decide on surgery if needed. With Hader sidelined, the Astros face a bullpen shuffle and a need to lean on trusted veterans as they chase the AL West title.

Hader has been a standout since joining Houston, posting a 2.05 ERA with 28-for-29 saves and earning his sixth All-Star nod before this IL stint. He threw a season-high 36 pitches across two innings in his last outing and reported shoulder discomfort during pregame plyometrics. The injury compounds Houston’s recent lineup struggles, with Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes and Jake Meyers also sidelined, placinga further burden on the pitching staff and the offense as the division race tightens.

The Astros have mixed durability and depth in their bullpen, with Bryan Abreu already serving as a prominent setup man and nine-time saves contributor among their relievers. Espada has not named a fill-in closer yet, signaling a committee approach until Hader’s status becomes clearer. The club’s injury list and the West-leading battle with Seattle add urgency to stabilizing the bullpen and lineup as they push toward the second half of the season.