Is another Opening Day in Framber’s future?
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Astros aren’t able to formally say so but, however the best way issues are lining up, it shouldn’t be a shock who takes the mound on Opening Day. In this case, Occam’s razor applies: the best reply is often the right one. And for the Astros, the logical selection is Framber Valdez.
“Probably,” mentioned supervisor Dusty Baker. “But I don’t want to make it official just yet.”
No drawback, Dusty. That’s high-quality. But within the meantime, let’s join the dots a bit bit on our personal.
Not solely did taking the ball reverse Max Scherzer in Saturday evening’s 2-0 loss to the Mets on the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches line Valdez as much as begin the membership’s March 30 opener towards the White Sox on common relaxation. But the All-Star lefty is the Astros’ clear ace and has appeared sharp all spring, coming off a spectacular 2022 marketing campaign and a winter during which the rotation misplaced Justin Verlander to free company.
It additionally wouldn’t be the primary time Valdez obtained the project. He made his first Opening Day begin for the membership in 2022, whereas Verlander returned from Tommy John surgical procedure to pitch the third recreation of the season.
“Not that I expect it, but if I am, I’m just ready to get the job done,” Valdez mentioned by way of translator Jenloy Herrera. “Do the same thing I did last year or be better than last year, and hopefully get positive results.”
Asked what it will imply to get the nod once more this 12 months, Valdez mentioned, “It would mean a lot to me. I would be very satisfied with it and feel very proud of all the hard work I’ve done.”
If Valdez’s outcomes this spring are any indication, he’s almost prepared. Though outshone by Scherzer on Saturday, Valdez nonetheless restricted the Mets to at least one run on 4 hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings, constructing as much as 83 pitches in steamy South Florida situations. The bases-loaded jam Valdez created within the fifth, which prompted his exit, was one of many few instances this spring he’s appeared like lower than classic Framber.
Across 4 Grapefruit League begins, Valdez owns a 1.98 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.
“I feel prepared for the season,” he mentioned.
If nothing else, this spring has served as additional proof of Valdez’s exceptional development from erratic reliever to one of many prime left-handers within the sport. After two promising seasons, he graduated into that tier final 12 months, ending 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA and main American League hurlers in innings and full video games. Valdez was the successful pitcher within the All-Star Game, completed fifth in AL Cy Young voting and was terrific within the postseason, incomes the victory in two of the Astros’ 4 World Series wins.
“He’s come a long ways in a short period of time,” Baker mentioned. “He’s had three quality years here. He’s been great, and he’s really matured as a player and a person.”
What Valdez was greater than something in 2022 was a workhorse, and an important one. The solely AL pitcher to eclipse 200 innings within the common season, Valdez logged 226 1/3 innings total as he helped Houston play as deep into October as attainable. As a consequence, his innings spiked 70 % in comparison with the earlier 12 months; that spectacular workload was a part of the explanation the Astros requested Valdez not take part within the World Baseball Classic this spring.
It was a request the staff didn’t make to right-hander Cristian Javier, whose five-year extension signed in February paints him because the membership’s different Opening Day candidate with Lance McCullers Jr. injured. Javier will make his first Grapefruit League begin on Sunday, which might nonetheless line him as much as be on common relaxation come March 30. But Valdez has already constructed up previous that time with 4 spring begins.
Regardless of how the alignment shakes out, a lot of the Astros’ success this season might hinge on how properly Valdez and Javier reply following huge innings jumps in 2022.
“Framber is strong,” Baker mentioned. “He works out hard. It’s important that we keep our starters healthy. The healthier they are, [the] more likely the healthier our bullpen is, too.”
