Houston topped Boston 7-6 in a high-stakes duel that keeps the AL West tight, with Seattle right on Houston’s heels. Alex Bregman returned to Houston and delivered two hits, including a homer, providing a spark for the Astros’ offense in a key divisional tilt. The result compounds the drama at the top of the division as the Astros seek to hold off the Mariners and maintain momentum for fantasy managers monitoring lineups and rotations.

Josh Hader exited after reporting shoulder discomfort; tests are pending, leaving the closer role in flux. Hader has 28 saves and a 2.05 ERA across 52.2 innings, with just one blown save—an elite mark that would make any absence costly for fantasy rosters. If he misses time, Bennett Sousa becomes the interim closer, with Enyel De Los Santos handling eighth-inning duties and the late outs as needed.

The bullpen shuffle matters for fantasy: Sousa is the only Astros reliever with more than one save this year (three), while De Los Santos offered two quick outs in the ninth before Sousa closed out the win against Roman Anthony. Astros officials will await test results, but the door is open for immediate bullpen reallocation should Hader be sidelined, preserving Houston’s slim lead in a race that remains wide open.

Houston beat Boston to extend its hot streak, sitting at 67-52 with a tight grip on the first-division lead in the AL West as September looms. With a postseason berth in sight, every bullpen decision becomes a fantasy lever, especially when late-inning roles are unsettled.

Josh Hader’s shoulder discomfort created immediate closer-adjacent intrigue. Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa filled the ninth on Monday, signaling a potential committee unless Hader returns swiftly. Talks of adding Ryan Pressly—Houston’s World Series-winning closer from 2022—have fans buzzing, adding an external option to the mix as Houston weighs relief help.

Hader carries 28 saves on a 2.05 ERA through 48 appearances, a foundation for any playoff push. If he misses time, De Los Santos and Sousa become frontrunners for saves, with closer duties potentially shifting week to week. The Houston bullpen may also absorb outside reinforcements, and the press around Pressly could influence internal strategy down the stretch.

For fantasy managers, the key is monitoring Hader’s status, the De Los Santos–Sousa dynamic, and any late-season bullpen acquisitions. A healthy Hader remains elite, but uncertainty over closers in Houston could redefine saves upside and speculative holds as October approaches.

Josh Hader landed on the injured list with a left shoulder strain, forcing Houston to lean on a bullpen committee in a tight win over Boston. In his absence, Espada deployed Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa in the ninth, with Sousa earning his fifth career save (and fourth this season) after facing one batter. Hader’s August workload has been light but effective, posting a 2.05 ERA and a 4.75 K:BB across multiple multi-inning appearances, a true closer’s backbone that Houston will miss as it fights to hold the AL West lead.

The Astros are also missing a slew of pieces—Isaac Paredes, Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers, and pitchers Ronel Blanco, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis García, and Hayden Wesneski—juicing the bullpen workload and widening the gap in a tight division race. Houston sits one game ahead of Seattle as July faded, with the Mariners 9-1 in a recent stretch while Houston has gone 5-5. With Hader out, Espada is likely to keep a committee approach with Abreu, King, and others stepping up in high-leverage spots, testing fantasy rosters that rely on late-inning wins and save opportunities.

Daikin Park welcomed home a ceremonial return for Houston as Cristian Javier came back from Tommy John surgery, delivering five innings in his first major-league start in 14 months. Alex Bregman returned to a raucous reception, launching a two-run shot in his first Houston at-bat since leaving Fenway Park years earlier. Ramón Urías, traded from Baltimore, homered in his Astros debut, while Jeremy Peña and Yainer Diaz contributed run-scoring hits and a late defensive gem. Boston’s rally fell short as the Astros held on for a 7-6 opener to maintain a one-game lead over Seattle in a tight AL West race.

The game highlighted a host of storylines: Javier’s velocity rebounded to the 93.5 mph four-seamer range with a new sinker wrinkle; Bregman’s presence injected energy and offense; Correa drew loud cheers in his return to Houston; and Urías arrived with instant impact. The Red Sox, led by Yoshida and Rafaela in late-inning bursts, fought back but couldn’t fully erase Houston’s early cushion. The win set the tone for a three-game set as Houston seeks to keep the division edge intact.

Houston signed Enyel De Los Santos to a major league contract, adding a veteran right-hander to a bullpen that has battled injuries and inconsistency as the Astros chase a crowded AL playoff field. He heads to New York for a weekend series with the Yankees, a reunion that brings personal motivation into a high-stakes matchup with postseason implications.

De Los Santos has logged time with the Yankees, Padres, Braves, Phillies and Guardians, carving a middle-relief role in Atlanta (4.53 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings) after a rocky, short Yankees stint. Houston bets his experience can anchor long relief and bridge to the late-inning corps, providing innings and a steadying veteran presence as the bullpen rebuilds around health and depth.

For fantasy managers, he’s a speculative add in deeper leagues or a toss-up streaming option when Houston needs reliable innings in tight games. If he settles into a regular role, his usage in Yankee Stadium could spell opportunities for holds and occasional wins, especially in matchups against right-handed hitters who have tormented the Astros’ relief corps at times this season.