Astros' Hader willing to pitch multiple innings after inking long-term deal

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader raised eyebrows Tuesday night when he pitched two consecutive innings against the Cleveland Guardians, something he rarely did with previous teams.

Hader, who joined the Astros on a five-year, $95-million contract in the offseason, said he's more open to extending himself now that he's financially secure, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.

"We need to win ballgames, right? And I think with me having a long resting period leading into this series, it made sense," Hader said. "And, obviously, I felt good enough to go for the second inning. That was the biggest thing. This year, my expectations were to be able to be available for multiple innings."

Hader's previous reluctance to pitch multiple innings didn't solely come down to the inherent injury risks. He said MLB's salary arbitration system only values saves when assessing the performance of closers, making two-inning outings risky propositions with no reward.

In Tuesday's game, Hader pitched a clean ninth inning before allowing the go-ahead run to score in the top of the 10th. The Astros ultimately won the game 10-9 thanks to a Victor Caratini walk-off home run.

The Astros continue their series against the Guardians on Wednesday night, having won three in a row after a difficult start to the season.