Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez had another strong outing in Friday's 8-0 victory over the Diamondbacks, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out seven on the way to picking up his 14th win of the season. The southpaw had a 1.59 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and a 24.0% K-BB% over five starts in August and looks to have carried that momentum right on into September with his 15th quality start of the year. The 30-year-old now has a 2.97 ERA (3.21 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and a 16.5% K-BB% in 2024. The 2x All-Star gets a favorable matchup his next time out when he faces the Athletics at home next Thursday.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez threw seven innings of a no-hit baseball in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Royals, allowing three walks and a hit batsman while striking out seven, but did not factor into the decision. The lefty was at 98 pitches so he would have gone well over his season-high pitch count had Joe Espada allowed him to stay in the game for the final two innings. Valdez has been great in August, even coming within one out away from a no-hitter earlier this month, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and a 24.0% K-BB% over five starts. The 30-year-old has been good overall as well, logging a 13-6 record with a 3.11 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 16.6% K-BB%. His next start will come next weekend at home against the Diamondbacks.

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez turned in a dominant outing Sunday in the team's 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander shut out Chicago over seven innings with three hits and nine strikeouts to win his eighth straight decision. Valdez has been red hot and has lowered his ERA to 3.20 on the season with a 1.14 WHIP and a 13-5 record. The 30-year-old is dialed in lately and continues to be an excellent fantasy option.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez improved to 12-5 in Monday's 6-1 win over the Rays. Valdez pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. The 30-year-old now owns a 3.38 ERA, an 8.40 K/9 rate, and a 2.89 BB/9 rate in 21 starts and 130 2/3 IP. His strikeout game has played up lately in particular, as he has totaled nine or more in four of his last six starts. Valdez has been a higher-end fantasy option throughout his career without particularly overpowering stuff, so the recent strikeout spike is an added bonus for fantasy managers. He should have a good chance to continue this spike in his next start against the White Sox.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez nearly made history in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Rangers. Valdez pitched 8 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on one hit (a home run) and three walks with five strikeouts. Valdez was one out away from his second career no-hitter, but he was pulled after allowing a two-run homer to Corey Seager. The 30-year-old has been a bit inconsistent at times this season but has overall been a higher-end fantasy option once again, going 11-5 with a 3.46 ERA, an 8.14 K/9 rate, and a 2.95 BB/9 rate in 20 starts and 125 IP. His next start will be a decent matchup at a mediocre Rays lineup.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez collected 10 strikeouts through six solid innings of work during Wednesday night's outing against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates at Minute Maid Park. It was a second consecutive showing with 10 punchouts for Valdez, who nabbed his 10th win of the year after yielding four runs on six hits and no walks against Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The 30-year-old star left-hander will bring a 2.90 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 40 K's and nine free passes over his last five appearances (31 frames) into his next scheduled showing on the road at Globe Life Field in Arlington next Wednesday for a pivotal Lone Star Series clash with the defending-champion Texas Rangers.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez shut down the Dodgers on Friday evening as he tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings. He allowed just four hits and two free passes. He struck out 10. The 30-year-old has enjoyed a nice turnaround across his last three outings, as he has carried a 1.42 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 7:26 BB:K after he posted a much higher 4.55 ERA and 1.66 WHIP through most of June. Through 110 innings this season, Valdez has held a 3.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 38:98 BB:K. He should remain started in all leagues and will be a popular DFS play in his next start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, July 31.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez tallied another quality start with 10 strikeouts in Wednesday's superb start against the visiting Miami Marlins, helping the team win their eighth straight game at home. Wednesday's effort marked Valdez's 10th quality start of the year, and it also signified his eighth win of the season. After tossing six innings of one-run ball on six hits and one walk against the Marlins, the reliable 30-year-old southpaw has a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 82:32 K:BB over 98 1/3 innings (16 starts) for the Astros in 2024. Valdez is as dependable as any hurler on a start-to-start basis for both Houston and fantasy managers.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez was solid on the mound during Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. The southpaw allowed one run on six hits over seven innings of work in the win. Valdez struck out seven batters while walking two hitters on the day. This wasn't an easy task for Valdez, but he turned out another strong outing. He has posted back-to-back quality outings after getting hit around by the Giants earlier this month. He'll take a 3.68 ERA into this next start against the New York Mets.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (3-2) had a night to forget Monday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits while recording just three strikeouts with one walk in a 9-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Every starting pitcher, even the best ones, is due for a dud start now and then. The part that stings the most was that Valdez was cruising into the fifth inning with a five-run lead before the home run barrage began. The former all-star lefty allowed a three-run home run to Nolan Schanuel. Then, a few batters later, back-to-back home runs, surrendering a three-run homer by Logan O'Hoppe followed by a solo shot from Jo Adell. It's important to note that Valdez strayed away from the game plan, which was confirmed in his post-game interview: "Yainer (Diaz) did a really good job calling pitches. I was the one that decided to try and change the game plan. I had to deal with the consequences," Valdez said. Valdez should have stuck to the game plan, as going rogue skyrocketed his ERA over a whole run from a 2.95 ERA to a 4.32 ERA. Despite the ugly outing, Valdez belongs in all fantasy lineups moving forward, especially when the Astros take on the Oakland A's for his next start.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez dominated in Wednesday's victory over the division-rival Oakland Athletics, tossing seven two-hit innings of scoreless ball on two walks with eight punchouts. Staked to an early-two run lead, Valdez cruised past Oakland on Wednesday for his second straight quality start and third win of the campaign. The 30-year-old fantasy mainstay now sports a rock-solid 2.95 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while fanning 31 and walking 11 over six starts (36 2/3 innings) for Houston this year. Valdez is slated to get the ball next during Monday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. In three appearances versus the Angels since 2023, Valdez is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA and a sublime 32:3 K:BB across 21 1/3 frames and will be locked-in fantasy starter.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez notched four strikeouts in seven innings and picked up the win in Houston's 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Valdez has now picked up two wins in three starts since coming back from elbow inflammation in his left elbow. The lefty needed to come back strong after a disappointing outing vs Seattle, where he gave up five earned runs, and he did so in a big way by helping the Astros win back-to-back games. Valdez will make his next scheduled start on Wednesday against the Oakland A's as he will look to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez made his return to the mound during Sunday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The left-hander looked sharp during his return after missing time due to elbow inflammation. Valdez went five innings, struck out six batters, and walked none in the victory. He only threw 71 pitches during this game, which is around what Houston wanted. Valdez didn't have a rehab stint, so the Astros will likely ease him back to full speed.

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) will come off the injured list and start on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, according to manager Joe Espada. On the surface, the matchup against the Rockies is excellent. However, there are a couple reasons why fantasy managers should be hesitant to quickly throw the 30-year-old southpaw back into their starting lineups immediately. First off, Valdez has been on the injured list since April 9 with inflammation in his left elbow. Second, he's going to return to the big-league rotation without making a minor-league rehab start, which means he'll likely be limited from a pitch-count perspective. And third, he'll be extra shaky in the thin air in Mexico City.

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and is expected to come off the injured list and start one of the team's games in Mexico City against the Colorado Rockies this weekend. Right-hander Ronel Blanco will start the other game. The 30-year-old Valdez was put on the 15-day injured list on April 9 with left-elbow inflammation. The fact that he's not going to pitch in a minor-league rehab game before returning to the major-league starting rotation should have fantasy managers hesitant to use him in his first start back from the IL, even if the matchup is a juicy one against the Rockies away from Coors Field. The two-time All-Star should still be rostered in all fantasy leagues and was looking good in his first two starts of 2024 before going on the shelf.

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) will throw a bullpen session with the team in Chicago this week and he could start one of the two games against the Colorado Rockies in Mexico City, either this Saturday or Sunday, according to manager Joe Espada. The 30-year-old southpaw was able to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session last Saturday, which was his first time throwing off a mound since left-elbow inflammation landed him on the injured list on April 9. Whether Valdez is able to make his return and start this weekend against the Rockies will be determined by how he looks in his next bullpen session this week. Even though the Rockies are a very enticing matchup, Valdez would be a shaky fantasy play in the altitude in Mexico City if he's activated for a start this weekend.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Saturday. This marks the first time Valdez has thrown off of a mound since he was put on the injured list. The Astros will wait to see how the lefty responds to the bullpen session before taking next steps, though there is a chance he will be activated without needing a rehab start. The Astros are desperate for his return as their staters have posted a 4.93 ERA to begin the season, 5th worst in the majors. The lefty posted a 2.19 ERA in his two starts before hitting the injured list so his return will provide a boost to the Astros, who also welcomed back Justin Verlander on Friday. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Valdez's progress in the event a rehab assignment isn't necessary.

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) played catch on Friday, and manager Joe Espada said the hope is that Valdez could throw off a mound on Saturday or Sunday. Valdez is currently on the injured list while dealing with left-elbow inflammation, but there's no structural damage and he's already throwing again after being sidelined on April 9. The 30-year-old southpaw won't come off the IL when he's eligible next week, but a minor-league rehab assignment may not be far off. In the meantime, his fantasy managers will be hoping he'll return sometime in May. Keep Valdez stashed in all fantasy formats until then. The Dominican starter had picked up where he left off in 2023 through his first two starts before his elbow injury, giving up just three earned runs while striking out 10 in 12 1/3 innings.

Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (elbow) played some light catch at Minute Maid Park on Monday. Head coach Joe Espada said last week that Valdez was getting close to playing catch again. It's a good sign for the 30-year-old southpaw, but he could still have a ways to go before coming off the injured list and rejoining Houston's starting rotation. He's dealing with left-elbow inflammation and is hopeful that he can come off the injured list when he's eligible on April 23, but that remains to be seen. Regardless of how long it is before Valdez returns, he needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy formats. The two-time All-Star allowed just three earned runs on 11 hits while walking six and striking out 10 in 12 1/3 innings in his first two starts of 2024 before his elbow started barking.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (elbow) is scheduled to play catch on Tuesday. The 30-year-old went on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, but he hopes to return when first eligible. His confidence bodes well, but fantasy managers will still have to wait and see when he ultimately rejoins the rotation. Valdez pitched well to start the season, posting a 2.19 ERA with 10 strikeouts through two starts. He should be rostered everywhere prior to his return.