Valdez took the loss in Sunday's 9-2 defeat to the Rangers in Game 6 of the ALCS, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out six.
Valdez fared better in this outing given that he could not make it out of the third inning in his last start, but it still was not enough for him to avoid his third loss in a row. The bulk of the damage came off a changeup he hung in the zone to Jonah Heim that was scraped over the wall for a two-run shot. Valdez's struggles this postseason are surprising compared to his robust 3.45 ERA across 198 innings in the regular season, although it may be that such a large workload has caused him to tire out at the finish line. On the other hand, he managed to keep his strikeouts in line with his average 6.5 per start, hinting at his upside if he can limit his mistakes. Valdez has pitched to a 9.00 ERA and 2.08 WHIP with 17 strikeouts across 12 innings this postseason.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Lined up to start Game 6
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Valdez will start Sunday in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Valdez was rocked for five runs -- four earned -- over just 2.2 innings in taking a loss in Game 2, so he'll be looking for better results Sunday on an extra day of rest. Nathan Eovaldi is lined up to start Game 6 for the Rangers.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Burnt for five runs in loss
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Valdez allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks across 4.1 innings, taking the loss in Sunday's 6-2 defeat against the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS. He struck out five.
Valdez is a typically reliable member of the Astros rotation, although he is no stranger to the occasional volatile outing. Sunday's start marked the sixth time in 32 starts this season that the southpaw has given up five or more earned runs. Valdez gave up three of his runs on at-bats by Carlos Correa, who knocked in runners in both the first and fifth innings to stick Valdez with the loss. The sixth-year pitcher has fared better overall in the postseason for his career, pitching to a 3.82 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 73 innings with 80 strikeouts.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Going in Game 2 for Houston
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Valdez will start for the Astros on Sunday in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Houston will go with Justin Verlander for the series opener before turning to Valdez in Game 2. Valdez was a little shaky in his final two starts of the regular season with 10 runs (nine earned) allowed over 9.1 innings, although he fanned 17 batters to finish with an even 200 strikeouts on the season.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Wild in no-decision
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Valdez allowed three runs on five hits and five walks while striking out seven over four innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Wednesday.
Valdez walked five batters for the third time this year, and he's issued multiple free passes in three of his last five starts. This was a short outing of 83 pitches (49 strikes), which could allow Valdez to line up for an early playoff game or potentially a brief bullpen assignment over the weekend if the Astros are looking to secure a playoff spot. Through 198 innings this year, he's posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 200:57 K:BB over 31 starts.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Stumbles against Royals
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Valdez (12-11) allowed seven runs (six earned) on four hits and three walks over 5.1 innings Friday, striking out 10 and taking a loss against Kansas City.
The Royals pounced on Valdez with a four-run first inning and set the tone for the rest of the game. He held them off until the sixth inning, when he was charged with three more runs. Despite the rough performance, he reached double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this year and the second time this month. Valdez owns a 3.57 ERA in 10 starts since the beginning of August despite allowing at least six runs on three occasions during that span. He'll carry a 3.39 ERA into his final regular-season appearance, which is lined up to come in Seattle next week.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Goes seven to earn 12th win
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Valdez (12-10) earned the win Sunday, allowing an unearned run on five hits and one walk over seven innings in a 7-1 win over the Royals. He struck out five.
A throwing error led to an unearned run that gave Kansas City an early lead, but Valdez was aided by a couple of double plays and an out at the plate to otherwise keep the Royals off the board. It was the fifth consecutive quality start for Valdez, who has gone at least seven innings in seven of his last nine starts. Among all qualified American League starters, Valdez ranks second in innings (188.2), fifth in ERA (3.20), sixth in WHIP (1.09), seventh in strikeouts (183) and second in quality starts (20). He's currently penciled in to face the Royals again next weekend in Houston.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Fans 10 but takes loss
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Valdez (11-10) took the loss against Oakland on Monday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out 10 batters over seven innings.
Valdez racked up 18 swinging strikes and finished with his third double-digit punchout game of the season, but he also served up two long balls. Those were enough to send him to the loss in a game during which Houston was held to three hits and no runs by a trio of Oakland hurlers. Valdez nonetheless extended his streak of quality starts to four, and he's allowed just six runs over 27 innings during that stretch. The Dominican hurler is tied for fourth in the majors with 19 quality starts on the campaign and also holds a 3.32 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 178:48 K:BB over 181.2 frames.
Valdez (11-9) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and four walks over seven innings against the Rangers. He struck out four.
Valdez kept one of MLB's most explosive offenses in check Tuesday, allowing just one run to score across seven innings of work. However, he did endure some hiccups, most notably in the form of his four walks. Regardless, Tuesday's performance continued a strong stretch for Valdez, who owns a 1.35 ERA and a 15:9 K:BB across his last three appearances (20 innings). He's tentatively scheduled to take on the Athletics at MInute Maid Park for his next start.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Collects win No. 10
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Valdez (10-9) picked up the win in Wednesday's 7-4 victory over the Red Sox, giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits over six innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The southpaw blanked Boston for five frames before fading in the sixth, but a Jeremy Pena error helped reduce the damage to his ERA and Houston had already piled up a seven-run lead. It's Valdez's first win since his no-hitter Aug. 1 against the Guardians, with the two outings bookending a month in which he posted a 3.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB through 41.2 innings. Valdez will look to take some momentum into his next start, which is likely to come early next week on the road against the Rangers.
Valdez did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing five walks but no hits over seven shutout innings versus the Tigers. He struck out six.
Valdez hadn't walked more than two in any start since the beginning of July, but his control abandoned him in this one, as he also hit a batter in addition to the five free passes. His pitch count ballooned to 114 through seven frames because of the wildness, leaving Astros manager Dusty Baker with no choice but to pull Valdez in the middle of a no-hitter. Bryan Abreu lost the no-no in the eighth and Ryan Pressly lost the game in the ninth. Valdez, of course, completed a no-hitter earlier this month against the Guardians, but he's been up-and-down since the All-Star break (5.33 ERA), mixing in some clunkers with his brilliant efforts.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Rocked by Mariners
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Valdez (9-9) took the loss Saturday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out five.
Valdez struggled to get through the Mariners lineup, giving up a season-high 10 hits and tying his season high in runs allowed. He struggled mightily with power, giving up five extra-base hits on the day, including a two-run home run to Dylan Moore in the fifth. Since throwing a no-hitter on Aug. 1, Valdez owns a 6.86 ERA, 12:5 K:BB and 2.3 HR/9 over 19.2 innings. He's set up for a bounce-back opportunity in his next projected start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Tigers in Detroit.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Goes 7.2 innings in loss
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Valdez (9-8) took the loss Monday, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over 7.2 innings against the Marlins. He struck out four.
It was a solid outing overall for Valdez -- he allowed just one earned run through his first six innings before allowing back-to-back homers to Jorge Soler and Luis Arraez in the eighth. The 29-year-old Valdez had allowed four or more runs in four of his previous five outings (his no-hitter on Aug. 1 was the lone outlier), working to a 6.10 ERA in that span. Overall, he sports a 3.31 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 148:36 K:BB across 23 starts (149.2 innings) this season. Valdez is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Red Sox in his next start.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Roughed up by Orioles
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Valdez did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks over seven innings against the Orioles. He struck out three.
Coming off a complete-game no-hitter in his last start, Valdez came back to Earth in Baltimore, tying his season highs in runs and hits allowed. Outside of the no-no, Valdez has allowed four or more runs in four consecutive starts and has struck out fewer than five batters three times in that stretch. All in all, Valdez owns a 3.30 ERA with a 144:35 K:BB through 142 innings and is tentatively scheduled to make his next appearance against the slumping Angels this weekend.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Completes no-hitter
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Valdez improved to 9-7 after striking out seven and walking one while throwing a complete-game no-hitter in the Astros' 2-0 win over the Guardians on Tuesday.
Valdez's no-hitter was the majors' third in 2023 and the first by a left-handed pitcher in Astros franchise history. He came just one walk shy of a perfect game, with that bid ending when he let Oscar Gonzalez reach safely in the fifth inning. The hitless shutout got Valdez back on track after he surrendered 15 total runs across his last three outings (15 innings). He'll look to keep the ball rolling in his next start, which is expected to come against the Orioles in Baltimore.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Short outing in loss
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Valdez (8-7) allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out only one over 3.2 innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Rangers.
The six runs were a new season high for Valdez, who has given up at least four runs in four of his last five outings. He also surrendered multiple home runs for the third time this season, including twice in his last three starts. The struggling southpaw is now at a 3.29 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 134:32 K:BB through 126 innings over 20 starts. Valdez is lined up for a home start versus the Guardians next week.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Cleared to start Friday
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Valdez (calf) will start Friday in Oakland, Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Valdez had to exit his last outing with a cramp in his left calf, but he got through his normal between-starts bullpen session Wednesday with no issues. The left-hander has posted a 2.76 ERA in 18 starts this season, and his 27.4 percent strikeout rate would be a career best.
Valdez (calf) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle reports.
If he comes out of the session without any issues, Valdez will be cleared to start Friday in Oakland. The left-hander had to make an early exit from his last outing Saturday versus the Angels due to a cramp in his left calf. Valdez registered 13 strikeouts in the start before exiting.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Next start uncertain
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said in an interview on SportsTalk 790 in Houston on Tuesday that he's unsure whether Valdez (calf) will be ready for his next scheduled start Friday in Oakland.
Valdez had to exit his last start Saturday versus the Angels due to a left calf cramp. The decision for the left-hander to take the ball Friday likely will be determined based on whether he can get through his normal between-starts bullpen session with no issues. Valdez tied a career high with 13 strikeouts against the Angels before the injury.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Leaves outing with apparent injury
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Valdez was removed from Saturday's start versus the Angels in the seventh inning with an apparent injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Valdez had just served up a two-run home run to Zach Neto and was removed in the middle of the at-bat against the next hitter. It's worth noting that he had already thrown 103 pitches, so perhaps the left-hander's removal was just precautionary. Valdez has dealt with an ankle injury recently, although there's no indication whether that's what was bothering him Saturday. The southpaw struck out 13 batters and induced 23 whiffs against the Halos, though he was charged with five earned runs across 6.1 frames.
