Astros lose reliever De Los Santos for final eight games to knee injury
Enyel De Los Santos, ninth among AL relievers in innings pitched, will miss Houston's last eight games because of a knee injury. The Astros placed him on the injured list, ending his regular season.
Enyel De Los Santos’s placement on the injured list caps a season in which he served as a durable, high-usage arm for Houston’s bullpen, ranking ninth among American League relievers in innings pitched. With only eight games left in the regular season, the move effectively ends his 2026 campaign, though the Astros did not specify whether surgery or rest would be required. His absence thins a relief corps already navigating late-season workloads, and the team must now redistribute those innings among other bullpen options as it pushes toward the postseason. The timing is particularly notable because September roster expansions and playoff positioning often hinge on bullpen depth.
This injury could subtly affect the Astros’ final stretch and postseason outlook, as losing a high-inning reliever may force other pitchers into heavier roles or alter late-game strategy. Fans and fantasy players tracking Houston’s bullpen may see shifts in usage patterns. More broadly, it underscores how reliever durability is a fragile commodity in September, where one knee issue can reshape a contender’s plans. The impact is contained to the team’s immediate roster, but it may ripple into playoff matchups if the Astros advance.