FRAMBER VALDEZ NEWS

Bounces back with quality start Valdez allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two in six innings Sunday versus the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.

Impact Valdez exhibited some early command issues with three walks and a run allowed in his first two innings. The Padres put up another run in the third after Fernando Tatis led off the frame with a triple. Valdez settled in with three scoreless frames over the back half of his start and ended at 87 pitches while pounding the zone with 63 strikes. It's been mixed results for Valdez through his first five starts, but he lowered his ERA to 4.50 after allowing seven runs against St. Louis to open up the week. He'll try to get back in the win column for the first time since his debut in a road start versus the Royals over the weekend.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Fernando Tatís Jr.'s HR helps Padres beat Astros 3-2, avoid being swept

Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a tiebreaking solo home run and scored all of San Diego’s runs as the Padres avoided being swept with a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros

2 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs-Astros Trade Idea Sends Houston Left-Handed Pitcher to Chicago Let’s analyze Athlon Sports’ trade idea that sends Astros pitcher Framber Valdez to the Cubs to replace Justin Steele.

APRIL 15 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Back at .500, Cardinals try to build momentum vs. Astros The St.Louis Cardinals have climbed back to .500 by winning four of their last six games.Their victories have come over some of the best pit...

APRIL 15 • THESTATE.COM

Hit hard by Cardinals Valdez (1-2) took the loss against St. Louis on Monday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and one walk while striking out three batters over four-plus innings.

Impact Though Valdez didn't give up any homers, the Cardinals hit the ball plenty hard against him and racked up five doubles. The southpaw ended his outing in poor form, giving up five hits -- including three doubles -- to the final seven batters he faced and exiting in a 6-0 hole. This was Valdez's shortest outing of the campaign, as he had gone at least five frames in each of his previous three starts. It's been a roller coaster for the Astros' ace to begin the season -- he's hurled two scoreless outings, but in his other two starts he's given up a combined 11 earned runs across nine innings.

APRIL 15 • ROTOWIRE

Arenado and Donovan help the Cardinals beat the Astros 8-3

Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3

APRIL 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cubs Blockbuster Trade Idea Acquires Ace From AL team A new trade idea has the Chicago Cubs acquiring Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez following Justin Steele’s season-ending injury.

APRIL 14 • SACBEE.COM

Deadspin | Astros' Framber Valdez looks to deliver strong start vs. Cards Deadspin | Astros' Framber Valdez looks to deliver strong start vs. Cards

APRIL 14 • DEADSPIN.COM

Astros' Framber Valdez looks to deliver strong start vs. Cards With their rotation beset by injuries, the Houston Astros need left-hander Framber Valdez to be their stopper.That assignment will continue...

APRIL 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Phillies Trade Idea Lands 2.50 ERA Ace for Prospect Haul Package A new trade idea has the Philadelphia Phillies acquiring Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez.

APRIL 12 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Dominant in six scoreless innings Valdez didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Seattle after allowing two runs and one walk in six innings, striking out eight.

Impact Valdez overcame an illness to take his next turn in the rotation Tuesday, dominating the Mariners while pouring in 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes over six shutout frames. Ryan Bliss doubled off the left-hander in the fifth inning, but Valdez left him stranded in scoring position. The southpaw will carry an excellent 2.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 21:2 K:BB across 18 innings (three starts) into his next scheduled appearance in St. Louis, which is tentatively set for early next week.

APRIL 9 • ROTOWIRE

Caratini delivers winning hit to push Astros to 2-1 extra-innings win

Victor Caratini hit the winning RBI single in the top of the 12th inning, as the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1

APRIL 9 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Officially starting Tuesday Valdez (illness) is starting Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact The left-hander was dealing with some fatigue and a sore throat over the weekend, but he's ready to take his regular turn through the rotation Tuesday. Valdez delivered seven scoreless frames in his season debut but surrendered five runs over five innings during his previous start last Wednesday.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Framber Valdez Trade Rumors Begin Amid Astros' Early Struggles Could the Astros trade All-Star pitcher Framber Valdez?

APRIL 8 • KANSASCITY.COM

Polanco's 2-run single gives Seattle a 4-3 win over Houston

Jorge Polanco hit a two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Seattle Mariners stopped a three-game slide by topping the Houston Astros 4-3

APRIL 8 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended, who's left in 2026's free agent class?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the centerpiece of the 2025-2026 MLB free agent class, but there are still other players worth opening the checkbo...

APRIL 7

Battling illness GM Dana Brown said Sunday that Valdez is dealing with some fatigue and a sore throat, putting his status in question for his scheduled turn through the rotation Tuesday in Seattle,...

Impact The left-hander could still be available to pitch Tuesday, but for now the Astros are leaving Tuesday's starter as "to-be-announced." In his first two starts of the season, Valdez has a 3.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 12 innings.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

Battling illness Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Valdez is dealing with some fatigue and a sore throat, putting his status in question for his scheduled turn through the rotation...

Impact The left-hander could still be available to pitch Tuesday, but for now the Astros are leaving Tuesday's starter as "to-be-announced." In his first two starts of the season, Valdez has a 3.17 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 12 innings.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

Ambushed by Giants early Valdez (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in five innings Wednesday against the Giants. He struck out nine.

Impact The star left-hander was ambushed early, promptly serving up a two-run home run to Willy Adames in the first inning. Luis Matos then hit a solo homer in the second, and Heliot Ramos also doubled to drive in a pair of runs during the frame. Valdez did settle in to throw three scoreless innings thereafter and fanned nine Wednesday, and he'll look to rebound in his next scheduled start at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against Seattle early next week.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Seven shutout frames on Opening Day Valdez (1-0) picked up the win Thursday against the Mets, striking out four and giving up four hits and two walks across seven scoreless frames.

Impact Valdez got off to a rocky start by allowing one hit and one walk in the first frame, but he managed to escape unscathed and didn't face much resistance over the following six innings. The Astros' shutout was broken in the ninth inning when Josh Hader gave up a sacrifice fly to Francisco Lindor, but the southpaw reliever managed to punch out Juan Soto for the save to give Valdez the Opening Day victory. It's a strong start to the 2025 season for Valdez after posting career bests in 2024 in ERA (2.91) and WHIP (1.11) across 176.1 frames. He's tentatively slated to face off against the Giants at home next week.

MARCH 27 • ROTOWIRE

MLB free agency: Plenty of talent potentially available in '25-26 class, likely none for $700M

There almost certainly won’t be a $700 million deal for any player in the baseball’s next free agency class, nothing like the record contracts for two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani a...

MARCH 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Named Opening Day starter Manager Joe Espada announced Sunday that Valdez will start Opening Day against the Mets on March 27, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Impact After posting a career-best 2.91 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 169:55 K:BB across 176.1 regular-season innings last season, it was only a matter of time before Espada named Valdez as Houston's Opening Day starter. The left-hander has focused on the movement of his pitches during spring training and overall has pitched well with a 2.53 ERA across 10.2 innings.

MARCH 16 • ROTOWIRE

Framber in midseason form with Opening Day on horizon WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Framber Valdez-Sandy Alcantara pitching matchup, though still just a Spring Training game, met expectations on...

MARCH 15 • MLB.COM

Astros Superstar Ace Projected To Sign 5-Year, $134 Million Contract Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez was recently predicted to sign a massive five-year, $134 million deal next off-season.

MARCH 11 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Happy with movement on pitches Valdez allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out one in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

Impact Valdez had a rough outing on the surface, but he built up to 60 pitches before throwing 15 more in a bullpen session. Per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle, Valdez had no concern about his line, instead noting that he was focusing on the movement on his pitches in favor of trying to rack up strikeouts or precisely hit his spots.

MARCH 10 • ROTOWIRE