HOUSTON -- All-Star closer Josh Hader was diagnosed with a left shoulder capsule sprain, the Astros announced Friday. Hader will not throw for a period of approximately three weeks as he rehabs the shoulder, and the club said "once that time period is up, the next steps will be determined."

That’s certainly ominous news for an Astros team that has seen its seven-game lead atop the American League West over the Mariners evaporate since July 6.

The loss of Hader for any amount of time is a huge blow to the Astros’ bullpen and will force some relievers to move into different roles, but Houston’s bullpen is much thinner now than it is with a healthy Hader, who made his sixth All-Star team this year.

Hader threw a season-high 36 pitches in two innings against the Yankees last Friday in New

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