Astros Face Pressure as Valdez Struggles Mount Against Mariners
The Houston Astros entered a pivotal weekend series tied for the American League West lead with the Seattle Mariners. After suffering two consecutive home losses to the Mariners, the Astros now find themselves two games behind in the division standings, desperately aiming to avoid a sweep on Sunday Night Baseball.
Hunter Brown’s Strong Performance
On Friday night, Hunter Brown took the mound for Houston, showcasing the talent that has him in contention for the Cy Young Award. Brown delivered a masterful six-inning performance, yielding only two runs while striking out nine batters. Despite his impressive outing, the Astros’ offense fell silent, leading to a disappointing loss in the series opener.
Framber Valdez’s Ongoing Struggles
Saturday brought Framber Valdez to the hill, but his performance mirrored the struggles he has faced since the All-Star break. Valdez was unable to make it through five innings, surrendering five runs and putting the Astros in a precarious position to recover from the deficit.
This recent downturn in form has raised concerns about Valdez, who began August with a strong 2.90 ERA, serving as the Astros’ reliable No. 2 starter behind Brown. Valdez had consistently pitched with an ERA below 3.50 for four consecutive seasons and appeared poised for a fifth.
A Troubling Trend
However, since the calendar turned to August, Valdez’s fortunes have shifted dramatically. He has allowed at least three earned runs in eight of his nine starts during this span, with his ERA ballooning to 3.75. Notably, his ERA has surged to an alarming 6.71 since August 1, highlighting a concerning trend for the Astros as they head into the final stretch of the season.
As the team grapples with these challenges, they remain hopeful that Valdez can regain his form before it’s too late to make a significant impact in the playoff race.
