Framber Valdez Could Become Mainstay In Rotation
4 years agoHouston Astros left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, who led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts in 2020, posted a 3.57 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 70 2/3 innings while making four stellar starts over 24 frames in the postseason. His 94 2/3 total innings led all of baseball last year, and he had a nice 3.14 ERA with 102 strikeouts and 26 walks. The 27-year-old could become a mainstay in the team's rotation because his curveball is one of the most dominant pitches in baseball. Valdez ranks fifth with a .192 expected wOBA on his curve since 2018. He used his curve 42 percent of the time in his final seven outings and had a 2.55 ERA with a 32 percent strikeout rate. The lefty is also a ground-ball machine (60 percent ground-ball rate), making him a fine SP3 target around his ADP of 95.
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harrigan
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harrigan