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.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Earns 15th win
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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.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Outdueled by Cease
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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.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Another strong outing
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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.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Blanks Arizona for 14th win
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Valdez (14-6) picked up the win in Friday's 8-0 rout of the Diamondbacks, allowing two hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Valdez has now held the opposition scoreless three times in his last four trips to the mound. The southpaw has been nearly untouchable since the beginning of August, giving up only 15 hits in 41 innings over his last six starts en route to a 1.32 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 45:12 K:BB. Valdez will look to stay dominant in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Athletics.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Dazzles in no-decision
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Valdez came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Royals, walking three batters over seven no-hit, scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
The southpaw closed the books on August the same way he started it, by teasing a no-hitter, but Valdez left the mound after 98 pitches (60 strikes) with Houston clinging to a 1-0 lead that Josh Hader eventually squandered. The quality start was Valdez's 14th of the year, and he didn't give up more than three runs in any of his five August outings, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB through 34 innings on the month. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Falters late in loss
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Valdez (13-6) took the loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Valdez was pulled with a 2-0 lead and the bases loaded in the sixth inning but all three runs crossed home plate on a pinch-hit double by Jackson Holliday. It was the southpaw's first loss since June 18 and just the second time in seven starts since the All-Star break he's allowed more than two earned runs. On the season, Valdez owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 139:44 K:BB across 143.1 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Royals next week.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Dominates in victory
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Valdez (13-5) allowed three hits and a walk over seven shutout frames Sunday, striking out nine and picking up a win over the White Sox.
Valdez did not allow a runner to reach scoring position and, at one point, retired 11 straight batters in the dominant victory. He's struck out at least nine batters in five of his last seven starts, resulting in a 59:12 K:BB through 46.1 frames. Valdez is 8-0 with an impressive 2.39 ERA over his last 10 appearances. On the year, he owns a 3.20 ERA with a 131:43 K:BB over 137.2 innings. Valdez's next start is projected to be in Baltimore.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Strikes out nine in win
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Valdez (12-5) earned the win Monday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out nine.
Valdez allowed Taylor Walls to double his season total in extra-base hits but otherwise allowed just a couple of singles and a walk that tallied merely one run. Valdez was on track for a quality start, but a two-out walk left him at 101 pitches and his night ended one out shy of his 13th such effort on the season. The veteran lefty hasn't taken the loss during any of his last nine starts, going 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while punching out 66 batters over 57 innings during that stretch. He's next slated to take the hill in a highly favorable home matchup against the fledgling White Sox.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Strikes out 10 in win
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Valdez (10-5) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out 10 without walking a batter to earn the win Wednesday over the Pirates.
All of the damage came in the second inning, as Joey Bart tagged Valdez for a two-run home run and the Pirates put up another two runs before he could escape the frame. The southpaw bounced back well, allowing just one single over his last four innings, and the Astros' offense picked him up. Valdez finished July with a 2.90 ERA and 40:9 K:BB over 31 innings, winning four of his five starts for the month. Overall, he has a 3.56 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 108:38 K:BB through 116.1 innings over 19 starts. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the Rangers.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Blanks Dodgers for ninth win
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Valdez (9-5) picked up the win Friday, allowing four hits and two walks over 6.1 scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Dodgers. He struck out 10.
The 10 strikeouts tied his season high, a mark he set in his final outing before the All-Star break, while the quality start was his 11th of the campaign. Valdez has been locked in since the beginning of June, giving up three runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts while posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 60:23 K:BB in 62.2 innings. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound at home next weekend against a Rays squad that could be seriously depleted after the trade deadline.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Strong through five innings
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Valdez did not factor into the decision in a win over Seattle on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Valdez managed to keep Seattle off the board until the bottom of the sixth, when Julio Rodriguez took him deep for a two-run shot. The lefty was then relieved by Tayler Scott with two outs in the frame, narrowly missing out on his third straight quality start. Valdez hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last five outings, though he's now issued multiple free passes in five of his last six. Over that latter stretch he's 3-1 with a 37:17 K:BB.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Hit hard Saturday
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Valdez allowed six runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Mets on Saturday.
Valdez struggled in the second and third innings, but the Astros were able to rally back to help him avoid a loss. Over six outings in June, he allowed 16 runs across 37.2 innings, though 11 of those runs came in two starts. The southpaw is still struggling compared to his usual level of performance with a 4.11 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 68:29 K:BB over 85.1 innings through 14 starts this year. Valdez is projected to make his next start on the road in Toronto.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Punches out seven
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Valdez (6-5) allowed a run on six hits and two walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win against Baltimore.
Valdez rolled through five shutout frames without facing too much trouble before Jordan Westburg belted a solo shot in the sixth inning. The Astros gave Valdez plenty of run support as he halted a brief two-start losing streak. It was the third time this year he's struck out at least seven batters, and each of those outings have come in his last eight starts. He's produced an impressive 2.73 ERA through 33 innings this month, lowering his season mark to 3.68 across 80.2 frames. Valdez will carry a 63:26 K:BB into his next outing, which is projected to be on the road against the Mets.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Struggles with control in loss
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Valdez (5-5) took the loss Tuesday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out five.
The Houston southpaw toiled against a weak White Sox team that entered the evening collectively batting .220 with a 7.1 percent walk rate -- both qualifying as the second-worst marks in the majors. The five walks Valdez issued were the most since his first start this season against the Yankees on March 28, when he issued six free passes. The 30-year-old now sports a 3.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 56:24 K:BB over 73.2 innings. Valdez faces a difficult test in his next scheduled outing, slated to come against Baltimore at home this weekend.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Falls to Giants
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Valdez (5-4) took the loss Wednesday against San Francisco, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out one.
It was a tough day for Valdez, who allowed two runs in the third inning before the Giants scored three more in the fourth. The 30-year-old Valdez had allowed just five runs in three starts (22 innings) coming into Wednesday's matchup. The left-hander now sports a 3.99 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB across 67.2 innings this year. Valdez will look to rebound in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week on the road versus the White Sox.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Goes distance in win
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Valdez (5-3) tossed a complete game to earn the win Friday over the Angels, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out eight over nine innings.
The Astros' bullpen was fairly fresh, but Valdez took care of business himself in his seventh career complete game. The lone mistake on his line was a Kevin Pillar solo home run in the second inning. Valdez has quality starts in four of his last five outings, and his strong performance Friday lowered his ERA to 3.53 with a 1.15 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB over 63.2 innings through 10 starts this season. The southpaw is projected to make his next start on the road versus the Giants.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Efficient in quality start
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Valdez (4-3) earned the win over Minnesota on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters over seven innings.
Valdez needed a modest 85 pitches to get through seven frames before turning the game over to the bullpen. He notched his second straight quality start and fourth over his past five contests. Overall, Valdez has given up three or fewer earned runs in seven of his nine starts on the campaign.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Tagged with loss Monday
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Valdez (3-3) took the loss against Seattle on Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Valdez looked to be in for a rough night after giving up three runs on four hits in the first inning, but he settled in from there and yielded just two hits and no runs the rest of the way. That allowed him to squeak by with a quality start, though he nonetheless ended with his second straight loss. Valdez gave up eight runs over five frames against the Angels in his previous appearance, so this was a decent bounce-back despite the difficult first inning. The left-hander tentatively lines up to face Minnesota at home in his next start.
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Astros' Framber Valdez: Worst start of season versus Angels
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Valdez (3-2) allowed eight runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings to take the loss Monday versus the Angels.
Valdez followed up his start of seven shutout innings versus the Athletics with a dud Monday. He was doing fine until the Angels rallied for seven runs in the fifth, including three-run home runs by Nolan Schanuel and Logan O'Hoppe and a solo shot from Jo Adell. Valdez is now at a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB through 41.2 innings over seven starts this season. He's projected to make his next start on the road in Seattle.
