Valdez, Freeman named Players of the Week

Astros starter Framber Valdez tossed a no-hitter in his most up-to-date begin, whereas Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman did nothing however hit final week. On Monday, they have been named the Players of the Week introduced by Chevrolet. 

Orioles outfielder Austin Hays took house Play of the Week honors with a diving ninth-inning catch throughout the O’s win over the Blue Jays on July 31.

Valdez’s no-no on Tuesday vs. the Guardians was the sixteenth in Astros franchise historical past and their first by a left-handed pitcher. He wanted solely 93 pitches to perform the feat, the third fewest in a no-hitter since pitch counts have been tracked (1988)

Valdez struck out seven and confronted the minimal 27 batters. A fifth-inning stroll was the one factor that separated him from perfection. This is the primary Player of the Week accolade for Valdez and the primary for an Astros pitcher since Gerrit Cole within the closing week of the 2019 common season.

Freeman continued an MVP-caliber 12 months with every week by which he batted .500 (13-for-26) with a 1.459 OPS over six video games. The 33-year-old opened the week with at the least three hits in every sport of the Dodgers’ three-game sweep of the A’s.

Freeman clubbed two house runs, together with one on the finish of a 10-pitch at-bat throughout a Sunday victory over the Padres. He even went 3-for-3 in stolen bases throughout the week, giving him a career-high 16 on the season. Freeman, who has now received Player of the Week 9 occasions, enters this week with an NL-best 172 wRC+.

Hays’ hovering seize with two runners on within the ninth inning of a two-run sport was not solely a clutch play for the Orioles versus a division rival; Hays mentioned it was the most effective catch he’s ever made.