Valdez will start Game 1 of the wild-card series versus the Tigers on Tuesday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
How the Astros ultimately set up their full postseason rotation will be interesting, but there wasn't much question as to whom would take the ball in Game 1. After an inconsistent first half, Valdez held a 1.96 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 87:23 K:BB over 78 frames in 12 second-half starts. He'll be opposed by Tarik Skubal.
Valdez (15-7) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Mariners on Tuesday.
Valdez was one out shy of a fifth straight quality start, but he was able to get the win, which also clinched the AL West for the Astros. Over his last five starts, he's allowed five runs across 33 innings with a 30:11 K:BB in that span. The southpaw is now at a 2.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 169:55 K:BB through 176.1 innings across 28 starts this season. Valdez's next start is likely to come in the playoffs. He is on turn to pitch during the wild-card round, as the Astros are locked in to finishing third among the American League's division winners.
Valdez (14-7) took the loss Wednesday against San Diego, allowing one run on five hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out six.
Valdez's seven innings of one-run ball weren't enough to keep him from the loss column, as Dylan Cease fired 8.1 scoreless innings for the Padres. Valdez has been excellent since the start of August, tallying a 1.33 ERA and 57:15 K:BB across 54.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Mariners his next time out.
Valdez didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Oakland, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out six.
Valdez looked like he was on his way to a third-straight scoreless outing, as he blanked the A's through six innings. However, Oakland would eventually scratch a run across in the seventh before Brent Rooker tied the game 2-2 with a homer off Valdez in the eighth. While it was a tough finish, it was another excellent start overall for the left-hander, who's posted a 1.33 ERA over his last seven outings (47.1 innings). Valdez is 14-6 on the season with a 2.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 159:51 K:BB across 163.2 innings. He's currently scheduled to face the Padres on the road next week in his next outing.
