Framber Valdez DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez got back on track Wednesday, holding the Milwaukee Brewers to one run over seven innings of work and picking up his second win in a 9-1 victory. Valdez scattered three hits and two walks while striking out seven in this one. It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for Valdez and his fantasy managers this season, as he has followed up dominant starts with mediocre or even downright terrible ones multiple times. He now sits at 2-4 with a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts over 48 IP. Hopefully, this performance is the first of many in a row. With his high upside, Valdez is still a must-start pitcher in all formats, regardless of his potential for a blow-up. His next outing should come next Tuesday at home against the Kansas City Royals, a team he just went eight strong innings against a few weeks ago.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez didn't get any run support on Saturday night in Kansas City, but he still went the distance in a complete game for the Astros, in a 2-0 loss. He allowed two runs on three hits in eight innings with five strikeouts and a pair of walks, but was outdueled by Michael Wacha and the Royals. Kansas City scored a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Mark Canha, and Vinnie Pasquantino added an insurance run with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The defeat drops Valdez to 1-3 on the year, but he lowered his ERA to 4.00 and his FIP to 3.65. He had gone at least six innings in four of his six starts this season, but this was the first time he reached the eighth inning. He'll hope to get more run support in his next outing, which is currently lined up for next Friday in a more favorable road matchup against the White Sox in Chicago

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.