Sousa transferred to 60-day IL

Sousa heads back to the shelf after just five appearances since being activated for his season debut back on April 25. There should be a clear return timeline at some point in the coming days. There’s obviously a wide range of potential outcomes when it comes to elbow issues.

Sousa’s return should provide an immediate lift for Houston’s bullpen, which has been an unmitigated disaster with a bloated 5.94 ERA this season, which is the second-worst in the entire majors. The 31-year-old lefty missed the first month of the season recovering from an oblique strain after posting a sparking 2.84 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 59/15 K/BB ratio across 50 2/3 innings last year. There’s a chance he gets a look in upcoming save situations until closer Josh Hader is back from the injured list, which gives him sneaky appeal in deeper fantasy leagues.

Sousa was a key component of Houston’s high-leverage mix last year and appears to be getting close to returning after opening the season on the shelf with an oblique strain. The 30-year-old southpaw should be cleared for a minor league rehab assignment at some point soon.

Sousa was one of the bright spots for Houston’s bullpen last year, posting a sparking 2.84 ERA — 2.88 xERA — 1.03 WHIP and 59/15 K/BB ratio across 50 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old southpaw should make it back to the Astros’ high-leverage mix at some point in the next few weeks.

Sousa figured to be a left-handed option for the Astros if he made the roster after allowing a run in three innings of Grapefruit League action. He had a 2.84 ERA for the Astros in 50 2/3 innings last year and should be quickly back on the roster after his rehab as long as this injury isn’t more serious than it sounds.

Sousa pitched 50 2/3 innings for the Astros in 2025 before being sidelined with a low-grade flexor/pronator strain. The 30-year-old recorded a 2.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 59/15 K/BB ratio and will continue to be a key part of the Astros’ bullpen.

He’ll be shut down from throwing completely over the next two weeks before being re-evaluated in early September. It sounds like he’s going to be out for a while though with a return before the regular season concludes no guarantee.

Sousa had been the next man up as the primary left-hander at the back end of the Astros’ bullpen in the wake of Josh Hader’s shoulder injury, but now he’ll join his fellow southpaw on the injured list instead. No word yet on how long the Astros expect Sousa to be shelved for.

Hader elaborated that it would take him at least three weeks to build up his arm strength and stamina following a three-week shutdown, which doesn’t leave any time for him to return before the regular season wraps up in exactly six weeks. The 31-year-old All-Star closer hit the injured list earlier this week with a left shoulder strain. It’s a brutal development for managers heading into the fantasy playoffs, but it’s a positive update that he won’t require surgery. His extended absence elevates Bryan Abreu to the closer role in Houston with Bennett Sousa likely to vulture the occasional save chance.

Enyel De Los Santos and Bennett Sousa worked the ninth, with Sousa getting a one-out save. Hader hasn’t worked since throwing 36 pitches on Friday, so something is definitely wrong here. The Astros will probably have to cop to it in the upcoming postgame interviews,