Astros Bullpen Struggles Without Hader Threaten AL West Lead

The Houston Astros are grappling with significant pitching challenges in 2025 as injuries to key starters Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia, along with the absence of closer Josh Hader for most of the regular season, have weakened their rotation and bullpen. Despite signing veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to add bullpen depth, concerns remain due to Kimbrel's recent struggles and inconsistency, as highlighted by Orioles fans familiar with his decline. The bullpen's workload and frequent warm-up sessions have contributed to fatigue, impacting performance even though their innings pitched are not among the highest in MLB. This pitching instability has led to blown leads and threatens the Astros' AL West dominance and playoff prospects. Meanwhile, the team's offense, led by players like Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker, continues to provide run support, exemplified by a recent 10-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Manager Joe Espada acknowledges the difficulties but emphasizes efforts to regain health and rhythm amid these pitching setbacks.