April 15, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez turned in his second disappointing start of the season in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Cardinals. Valdez pitched four innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts. The 31-year-old has been uncharacteristically inconsistent in his first four starts of the season, allowing no combined runs in two of them and 11 combined earned runs in his other two. Overall, he is now 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA, a 9.82 K/9 rate, and a 3.27 BB/9 rate in 22 IP. Valdez's next matchup will be a tough one against the Padres. While fantasy managers may have drafted Valdez as high as their rotation ace, they may consider sitting him if they have other options, at least in roto leagues.
--Connelly Doan - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 8, 2025
Houston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez (illness) will make his scheduled start on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park against the division-rival Seattle Mariners. It was unclear over the weekend whether Valdez would be able to make his start this week while he was dealing with fatigue and a sore throat, but the 31-year-old veteran southpaw will toe the rubber and should be started in single-year fantasy leagues. Valdez looked great on Opening Day on March 27 against the New York Mets, tossing seven scoreless innings in a win with two walks and four strikeouts. However, he gave up five earned runs while walking four and striking out nine in five innings for a loss against the San Francisco Giants his last time out on April 2. Fantasy managers will be hoping for an outing more along the lines of his season debut now that he's apparently feeling better.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
April 6, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez (illness) might not be available for his next turn in the rotation, which is on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners. Astros manager Joe Espada said the team is listing their starters for Tuesday and Wednesday as TBA for now. General manager Dana Brown said Valdez is dealing with some fatigue and a sore throat. It sounds like the Astros are going to wait and see how Valdez feels in a day or two before making a final decision on his status.
Hunter Brown is scheduled to take the mound on Wednesday, but he could see his start pushed back depending on what happens with Valdez. Fantasy managers will need to check back for another update in a day or so.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Chandler Rome
March 27, 2025
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Framber Valdez was dominant on Thursday, tossing seven shutout frames while striking out four. There was never any real danger for the ace, as he scattered four hits and two walks throughout the game. He is coming off of a 2024 season where he posted a 2.91 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 169 strikeouts in 176 ⅓ innings. He may not give you the strikeout upside of some other aces, but his reputation as a workhorse pitcher is becoming a rare occurrence in today's game. He is a true innings-eater who will provide great ratios as a matchup-proof option for fantasy.
--Jeremy Heist - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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