Josh Hader
RP HOU
Thu 6/14/18 1:51 PM

Hader struck out three batters in a scoreless eighth inning in Wednesday's victory over the Cubs.
EDGE Analysis
Pitching for the second time in three days for just the fourth time this season, Hader allowed a hit but nothing more, and upped his strikeout total on the season to 75. Hader has not recorded a save in over a month, but he is still returning plenty of fantasy value thanks to his minuscule ratios and strikeout numbers.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Thu 5/31/18 10:10 AM

Hader struck out four batters but also allowed four runners to reach base over 1.2 innings in Thursday's victory over the Cardinals.
EDGE Analysis
Hader entered Thursday's game in the eighth inning, and manager Craig Counsell seemingly would have allowed him to finish the contest had been sharp, and pick up another save as a result. However, with Hader allowing more runners on base than usual, Counsell decided to bring in Corey Knebel for the final, and Knebel was able to close the door. While Hader did not reward fantasy players with a save Thursday, he did keep the opponent off the scoreboard for the 13th time in 14 appearances and raised his strikeout total on the season to a whopping 66.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Sat 5/12/18 1:04 PM

Hader struck out two over a perfect 10th inning and recorded his sixth save of the season in Friday's victory over the Rockies.
EDGE Analysis
Friday's save was the first of the season for Hader in which he did not cover multiple innings, but he still recorded multiple strikeouts for the 13th time in 14 appearances this season and kicked in another save to boot. Hader has not been the only reliever closing games for the Brewers, and that will not change with Corey Knebel presumably ready to close again, but he should still see save opportunities here and there when the matchups dictate.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Wed 5/9/18 8:59 AM

Hader struck out three over a pair of clean innings to earn his fourth save of the season Tuesday against the Indians.
EDGE Analysis
The bullpen had to step up after starter Wade Miley (oblique) went down early on, and it was Hader who stepped up to provide his fourth multi-inning outing in his last five. He remains an elite source of strikeouts and now has an otherworldly 19.4 K/9 on the season. Though Corey Knebel (hamstring) is likely to be activated soon, Hader should remain a workhorse for Milwaukee and could even be in the mix for saves for the foreseeable future.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Tue 5/1/18 6:21 PM

Hader is unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Reds, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
EDGE Analysis
Unsurprisingly, Hader will get the day off after dazzling in an eight-out relief appearance Monday that saw him strike out all eight batters he faced to collect the save. The 24-year-old southpaw now owns a remarkable 1.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 39:5 K:BB through 18 innings this season.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Thu 4/26/18 11:30 AM

Hader recorded the final two eights of the eighth inning -- both via strikeout -- in Wednesday's victory over the Royals.
EDGE Analysis
In the latest example of manager Craig Counsell not sticking to traditional bullpen roles, Hader was used in a key spot and then promptly removed despite not experiencing any issues -- likely because Counsell had an eye on the Brewers' as-big-as-it-gets-for-April series with the Cubs that starts Thursday. Hader is giving fantasy players exactly what they want in the strikeout and ratio departments; just don't expect him to pile up the save numbers most relievers of his caliber do.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Sun 4/22/18 9:34 PM

Hader earned the save Sunday, going two innings and striking out three while allowing an unearned run against the Marlins.
EDGE Analysis
Right now, Hader seems to be the preferred end-game option for manager Craig Counsell, as the lefty has been responsible for three of the club's last four saves with regular closer Corey Knebel (hamstring) sidelined. He may not be deployed in the same way as a traditional closer, but either way Hader remains a valuable asset with a 29:4 K:BB over 14.2 innings to go along with a minuscule 1.23 ERA.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Sat 4/14/18 11:53 PM

Hader struck out five over two perfect innings to pick up his first career save in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Mets.
EDGE Analysis
At least for one night, the Brewers gave up trying to find an alternate closing option and simply let Hader loose, and the left-hander needed only 23 pitches -- 18 of them strikes -- to lock down the win. His usage will likely remain unconventional, but expect the club's best reliever to start seeing more work in the ninth inning, as there's simply no arguing with Hader's uncanny 22:3 K:BB through 9.2 innings.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Tue 4/10/18 11:34 AM

Hader threw 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out four batters in Monday's victory over the Cardinals.
EDGE Analysis
Hader walked the first batter he faced Monday, but he was unhittable after that, striking out the next three batters in the seventh inning and the first of the eighth. It does not appear Hader will see save opportunities while Corey Knebel (hamstring) is sidelined -- manager Craig Counsell said as much last week -- but he is still providing fantasy value in other areas, allowing just four runners to reach base over 6.1 innings (0.63 WHIP) while punching out 14 batters -- good for an eye-popping 19.9 K/9.

Josh Hader
RP HOU
Sat 4/7/18 12:22 PM

Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that he prefers to keep Hader in a multi-inning role, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
The team will share closer duties with Corey Knebel out with a hamstring injury, but the skipper seemed to suggest that Hader is not going to be a big part of that mix. Counsell mentioned Matt Albers, Jacob Barnes, Jeremy Jeffress and Dan Jennings as options for the ninth, while Hader's role will remain flexible -- he entered in the fourth inning Friday. Regardless, Hader is probably the best arm in the bullpen and should be owned in most leagues for what he can do in the ratio categories.