In a surprising turn of events for the Houston Astros, closer Josh Hader faced another challenging outing, culminating in a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday night. Hader, who recently inked a $95 million, five-year contract with the Astros, has stumbled early in the season, with his ERA ballooning to 6.75 after Tuesday’s game.
The game’s pivotal moment came in the ninth inning, with the Astros leading 1-0 thanks to a masterful pitching performance by Framber Valdez, who had kept the Blue Jays scoreless for 7 2/3 innings. However, Hader, a five-time All-Star, couldn’t seal the deal. After walking Justin Turner, Davis Schneider stepped up to the plate, delivering a crushing two-run homer that flew to center field, snatching the victory for the Blue Jays.
Hader’s reaction was one of visible frustration, as he crouched on the mound, reflecting on the one mistake that cost the Astros the game. “Trying to get it below,” Hader explained. “Hung it middle, middle.” This defeat marks his second setback in as many appearances for the Astros, following a loss to the New York Yankees earlier in the week where he gave up a tiebreaking single to Juan Soto.
Manager Joe Espada acknowledged Hader’s unfortunate slip-up but remained supportive of his closer, highlighting that aside from the critical error, Hader’s performance seemed promising. “He made that one mistake there,” Espada said. “I think he hung that slider, but everything else looked pretty good.”
The Astros’ bullpen, which had been solid leading up to the ninth inning, now faces scrutiny as they navigate Hader’s integration into their late-game strategy. Hader himself is no stranger to adversity, having established a reputation as one of the league’s premier relievers during his tenure with the San Diego Padres. Still, the early-season struggles underscore the pressures associated with high-profile signings and the expectations that come with them.
Despite the rocky start, Hader remains focused on improvement and contributing to the Astros’ success moving forward. Reflecting on the loss, he expressed disappointment in not securing the win for Valdez, who had put the team in a position to succeed. “No one wants to give up two runs, especially when you got Framber doing what he’s done, going as long as he did,” Hader said. “Unbelievable start and just not being able to give him that win, it’s unfortunate.”
As the Astros continue their campaign, all eyes will be on Hader as he works to adjust and live up to the expectations set by his significant contract. With the season still young, there’s ample time for Hader to turn things around and prove that he can be the reliable closer Houston believes him to be.
