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.
Astros' Framber Valdez: Struggles with control in loss
Rotowire
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.
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.
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.
