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Framber Valdez 2021 Player Outlook: Injury Casts Dark Shadow On Season
5 years agoHouston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez had a much improved season in 2020, going 5-3 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 26.4% strikeout rate, and 5.6% walk rate. He seems to have cemented himself in the Astros' starting rotation, making 10 starts in 11 appearances in 2020 compared to eight starts in 26 appearances in 2019. Further, his -0.8-degree launch angle led to above-average expected stats, including a 3.23 SIERA despite having an average exit velocity and hard-hit rate in the bottom-five percent of baseball. While his strikeout rate increased from 2019, his swinging-strike rate actually decreased, so it is difficult to say if he can maintain his strikeout rate in 2021. Unfortunately for the Astros and Valdez, he suffered a serious finger issue early on in the spring. It originally looked like he could miss the full season but a second opinion found significant healing in the finger. The timetable for his recovery is still unclear so bid for his services with that in mind. His current ADP is 154.
