(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

The Houston Astros placed All-Star closer Josh Hader on the injured list Tuesday after he underwent testing on a sore shoulder that kept him out of a save situation the day prior.

The AL West-leading Astros described Hader's issue as a left shoulder strain and their move is retroactive to Monday, when the ailment prevented him from closing Houston's 7-6 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox.

It marks the first time Hader has been placed on the injured list in his nine-year MLB career, excluding a stay on the COVID IL in 2021.

When meeting with reporters before Tuesday's game against Boston, Astros manager Joe Espada called the Hader news a 'punch to the gut.' The left-hander was still undergoing tests to determine the severity.

In related roster moves, the Astros activated right-hander Shawn Dubin (forearm strain) from the IL, recalled left-handed starter Colton Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land and designated veteran right-handed reliever Hector Neris for assignment.

Hader threw a season-high 36 pitches on Friday while getting the win as the Astros defeated the host Yankees 5-3 in 10 innings. He didn't pitch on Saturday when New York defeated Houston, then warmed up but was not used on Sunday when the Astros pulled away late in a 7-1 victory.

'He walked in today and he was doing his (plyometrics) before doing his throwing program and just did not feel right,' Espada said on Monday.

Hader, 31, is two years into a five-year, $95 million contract. He earned his sixth All-Star appearance this year and has 28 saves in 29 chances while going 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA. Hader has 76 strikeouts and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings.

In a career that included stints with the Milwaukee Brewers (2017-22) and the San Diego Padres (2022-23) before signing as a free agent with Houston in January 2024, Hader is 227-for-257 on save opportunities with a 34-31 record and a 2.64 ERA. He has 829 strikeouts and 198 walks in 512 1/3 innings.

In Hader's absence on Monday, Houston right-handed reliever Enyel De Los Santos got the last out of the eighth inning and went to the mound in the ninth with a 7-6 lead. He retired the first two batters before yielding a double. Left-hander Bennett Sousa entered and struck out rookie Roman Anthony to earn his fourth save.

Dubin, 29, has pitched in 18 games out of the Houston bullpen this season and is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA. Gordon, 26, made his major league debut earlier this season and has gone 4-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) for the Astros.

Neris, 36, joined the Astros in early July after starting the season with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels. He was part of Houston's 2022 World Series-winning team, but struggled to a 5.40 ERA and 0-1 record in 12 relief appearances for the Astros this summer.

--Field Level Media