Astros' Framber Valdez: Tosses five scoreless frames
Rotowire
Valdez did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing six hits and zero walks over five scoreless innings against the White Sox. He struck out four.
Valdez yielded six hits in the outing, but only one (a Tim Anderson double) went for extra bases. Last year's MLB leader in quality starts appeared on his way for another to begin 2023, but he was pulled after throwing 85 pitches across five innings. Nonetheless, this was a strong opening to the campaign for Valdez as he looks to put together a second straight All-Star season.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Officially starting Opening Day
Rotowire
Valdez will start Opening Day versus the White Sox on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Valdez will toe the rubber for the Astros' season opener as they head to Chicago for the first weekend of the year. The left-hander skipped the WBC after he came to an agreement with Houston to do so and in turn, that likely made him the top choice to start Thursday. Valdez produced an impressive 2.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 194 strikeouts over 201.1 innings in 31 starts last season, and he could step right into the Astros' ace role with Justin Verlander now a member of the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Likely Opening Day starter
Rotowire
Valdez is likely to start for the Astros on Opening Day, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Manager Dusty Baker hasn't made an official announcement, but he did tell reporters Saturday that Valdez will "probably" take the mound on Opening Day. Valdez also drew the assignment in 2022, and he delivered throughout the season by posting an exceptional 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 194:67 K:BB across 201.1 innings. Even if another Astros starter gets the call for the first game, Valdez will almost certainly start at some point during the team's opening series against the White Sox.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Skipping WBC
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that Valdez won't pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Valdez and the Astros agreed to have the southpaw sit out the WBC after he pitched a career-high 201.1 innings in 2022, nearly 65 more frames than his previous career high of 134.2 set in 2021. The 29-year-old was outstanding during Houston's championship 2022 season, producing a 2.82 ERA, 194:67 K:BB and 1.15 WHIP. With Justin Verlander leaving for the Mets this offseason, Valdez should be in contention for the Astros' Opening Day nod.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Agrees to terms for 2023
Rotowire
Valdez signed a one-year, $6.8 million contract with the Astros on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Coming off the heels of a 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP season, Valdez earned himself a $3.8 million pay raise from last year after playing a big part in the Astros' title run. The 29-year-old southpaw has never been known to rack up strikeouts like other aces, though it's hard to argue with the results he's produced over the past few years.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Carries Houston to World Series win
Rotowire
Valdez pitched six innings and earned the win during Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine.
The only blemish on the night for Valdez came on a solo home run from Kyle Schwarber in the top of the sixth inning. The southpaw's sinker was electric in Game 6 -- of the nine outs from balls in play, his sinker forced six ground outs. The other nine outs came from strikeouts, the third consecutive game for Valdez with nine punchouts. The 28-year-old finished the postseason 3-0 with a stellar 1.44 ERA and 33 strikeouts across 25 innings. Valdez was arguably the best pitcher on the Houston staff and a major contributor to their postseason success.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Stellar start in Game 2
Rotowire
Valdez pitched 6.1 innings and earned the win during Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine.
Valdez gave the Astros a much-needed performance in Game 2, keeping the red-hot Phillies' lineup off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 28-year-old had great control with his curveball Saturday, and he recorded five of his nine K's via the breaking ball. Valdez has been outstanding in the playoffs -- he has allowed only three earned runs in 19 innings during the postseason while amassing 24 strikeouts. The southpaw finished the regular season at 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA, but he looks even better in the playoffs.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Dominant performance in Game 2
Rotowire
Valdez pitched seven innings and got the win Thursday night in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out nine during the 3-2 win over the Yankees.
Valdez had just one stressful inning Thursday night, which came in the fourth when he bobbled a comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton and compiled the mistake with a throwing error to first base. Two runs eventually scored in the inning, but the 28-year-old lefty was able to limit the damage by striking out Josh Donaldson and Kyle Higashioka, and he finished his outing by striking out the side in the seventh. The nine strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Valdez since he recorded nine against the Rays in 2020. The southpaw owns a 1.48 postseason ERA and 15 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Earns 17th win
Rotowire
Valdez (17-6) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits and one walk over five shutout innings against Philadelphia. He struck out 10.
Valdez was electric on Wednesday, running through hitters with a mix of curveballs, sinkers and cutters over the course of five innings. Eight of his 10 strikeouts came on swings and misses, and he produced a total of 15 swinging strikes on the afternoon. It was a great bounce-back effort for Valdez after allowing 10 runs over his previous two starts. It was also just the second time since July 3 that the left-hander recorded double-digit strikeouts in an outing.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Tagged for six runs
Rotowire
Valdez (16-6) gave up six earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings to take the loss in a 7-3 defeat against the Rays on Friday.
Valdez struggled for his second start in a row after putting together an MLB-record 25 consecutive quality starts earlier in the season. The Rays made plenty of contact and Valdez gave up six earned runs in a game for only the second time this year. Nevertheless, 2022 has been a breakout campaign for Valdez who significantly upped his workload by pitching 196.1 innings to date with an ERA of 2.89. Depending on how the Astros decide to structure their rotation in the playoffs, the left-hander could be in line to make one last regular season start against the Phillies.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Sees end to quality-start streak
Rotowire
Valdez did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out six.
Valdez allowed just three hits through the first three innings as the Astros jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but things began to unravel for him in the fourth after giving up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Rougned Odor later singled to drive in Adley Rutschman and Ramon Urias before Cedric Mullins topped off the inning with a two-run shot. Though the right-hander was charged with only four of the seven runs that came across while he was on the mound, it was still the first time all season that Valdez allowed more than three runs in a start. It also snapped his MLB single-season record of 25 straight quality starts.
Valdez (16-5) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Sunday.
Valdez tossed a complete-game shutout Monday against Detroit but threw just 87 pitches against Oakland on Sunday, marking just the second time that he hasn't thrown at least 100 pitches over his last 10 starts. However, the southpaw remained dominant and got plenty of run support from the Astros' offense to cruise to his seventh win over his last eight outings. Valdez has been incredibly consistent this season and set a major-league record Sunday by posting his 25th consecutive quality start. He tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Baltimore on Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Fires complete-game gem
Rotowire
Valdez (15-5) allowed six hits and a walk during a complete-game shutout Monday, striking out eight and earning a win over Detroit.
Aside from a small jam in the first inning, Valdez didn't face much of a threat during his dominant victory. The 28-year-old southpaw tossed 72 of 107 pitches for strikes and forced 16 whiffs. He allowed three or fewer earned runs for the 24th consecutive start and lowered his season ERA to a stellar 2.50 with a 169:61 K:BB through 179.2 frames. He's struck out at least eight batters in four straight outings. Valdez is scheduled to start in Tampa Bay in his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Let down by defense
Rotowire
Valdez (14-5) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks over 6.2 innings against the Rangers. He struck out 11.
The Astros uncharacteristically committed three errors Tuesday, causing two unearned runs to score against Valdez on the night. The southpaw allowed four walks for the second time in three starts but was mostly effective, as he recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season and likely would have completed seven innings if not for the errors. Valdez has remarkably thrown 23 straight quality starts. He will carry a 2.64 ERA into his next start.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Another excellent effort
Rotowire
Valdez (14-4) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight across eight innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Rangers.
Valdez continued to build on his franchise record by recording his 22nd consecutive quality start. He surrendered a pair of solo home runs, but otherwise kept the Rangers in check. Valdez's key to success is typically groundball outs, but he has at least eight strikeouts in three of his last four starts -- aided by the fact that he's worked at least seven innings in each of those outings. For the season, he now owns a 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 150:46 K:BB across 164 frames.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Nabs franchise record with QS
Rotowire
Valdez (13-4) picked up the win over Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over seven innings.
Valdez was a bit wild with four walks, but he surrendered only two base hits and completed seven innings for the third straight outing. He finished with his 21st consecutive quality start, surpassing the franchise record set by Mike Scott in 1986. Valdez has earned a win in five of his past six appearances, and he's already established a career-best mark with 13 victories on the campaign. The southpaw doesn't typically post huge strikeout numbers and has issued at least three passes in three of his past four starts, but he keeps rolling along as one of the game's most consistently effective starting pitchers.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Records 20th straight quality start
Rotowire
Valdez (12-4) earned the win over the White Sox on Wednesday, completing seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six batters.
Valdez was tagged for a pair of runs in the fourth inning, but he was otherwise able to keep Chicago off the scoreboard. The left-hander didn't have his best stuff -- he walked three batters and allowed at least one baserunner in six of his seven frames -- yet he succeeded by keeping the ball on the ground, inducing three double plays. Valdez ended up with his 20th straight quality start, tying the franchise record set by Mike Scott in 1986, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Valdez isn't the flashiest starting pitcher in fantasy, but he's undoubtedly among the most consistent.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Dominant in victory
Rotowire
Valdez (11-4) earned the win Thursday over Texas, striking out eight in seven scoreless innings while allowing four hits, a walk and a hit batsman.
All four hits against Valdez were singles, and he managed to pitch around trouble in the third and seventh innings to hold the Rangers scoreless. At one point, he retired 11 straight batters. The 28-year-old has now thrown a quality start in 19 straight appearances. He's posted a 2.73 ERA and allowed just seven homers in 142 innings this year. His next start will likely be in the middle of next week against the White Sox.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Collects win No. 10
Rotowire
Valdez (10-4) picked up the win in Friday's 9-3 victory over the Guardians, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out three.
It wasn't a dominant effort by the southpaw, but Valdez still delivered a quality start in an incredible 18th straight trip to the mound -- putting him two QS shy of Mike Scott's franchise record of 20 straight, set in 1986. Valdez will take a 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 120:48 K:BB through 135 innings into his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Framber Valdez: Posts ninth win
Rotowire
Valdez (9-4) earned the win Sunday over the Mariners. He allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
Valdez kept the Mariners off the board through six innings, but they were able to get to him in the seventh. The All-Star break didn't slow down the southpaw, who has now posted 16 straight quality starts. The eight strikeouts were also his second-highest total of the year. Valdez owns a 2.74 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 110:44 K:BB through 121.2 innings in 19 starts. He's projected for a home rematch with the Mariners next weekend.
