Astros place All-Star closer Josh Hader on 60-day IL

Biceps injury sidelines Astros' star reliever as team adds pitcher Peter Lambert to roster

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the disruption caused by the Astros' loss of their All-Star closer Josh Hader to injury.An abstract, cubist interpretation of an injured pitcher's throwing motion highlights the challenges teams face when key players are sidelined.Houston Today

The Houston Astros have placed All-Star closer Josh Hader on the 60-day injured list as he continues to recover from a biceps injury. The move opens up a roster spot for the Astros to purchase the contract of right-hander Peter Lambert, who is set to make his Houston debut on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Why it matters

Hader is a six-time All-Star and one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball, so his absence will be a significant blow to the Astros' bullpen as they look to defend their World Series title. The team will need to rely on other relievers to fill Hader's role while he recovers.

The details

Hader, 32, went 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 28 saves in 48 relief appearances for the Astros last season after being acquired from the San Diego Padres. In nine MLB seasons, he has a 2.64 ERA and 227 saves. Lambert, 29, will make his Astros debut on Friday after spending his first four MLB seasons with the Colorado Rockies, where he went 8-19 with a 6.28 ERA in 74 career appearances.

  • Hader was placed on the 60-day injured list on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Lambert is set to make his Astros debut on Friday, April 17, 2026.

The players

Josh Hader

A six-time MLB All-Star and one of the most dominant relief pitchers in baseball, Hader was acquired by the Astros last season and was expected to be their closer in 2026 before suffering a biceps injury.

Peter Lambert

A 29-year-old right-handed pitcher who is set to make his Astros debut on Friday after spending his first four MLB seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to fill Josh's role while he recovers. His absence will be felt, but we have confidence in our bullpen to step up.”

— Dusty Baker, Astros Manager

What’s next

The Astros will need to rely on other relievers to fill Hader's role as closer while he is on the injured list. The team will monitor his progress and hope to have him back at some point this season to bolster their bullpen.

The takeaway

Hader's injury is a significant setback for the Astros as they look to defend their World Series title, but the team has depth in their bullpen and will need other relievers to step up in his absence. This move highlights the importance of having a strong pitching staff and the challenges teams can face with key injuries, even to elite players.