Houston Astros southpaw Framber Valdez will make his fourth straight Opening Day start when he takes the mound against the New York Mets on March 27 at Minute Maid Park, with the first pitch at 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Valdez, a two-time All-Star and World Series champion, will become the seventh Dominican-born pitcher to start at least four consecutive Opening Day games. He joins an elite group that includes Pedro Martinez from 1998 to 2005, Juan Marichal from 1964 to 1969, Mario Soto from 1982 to 1986, Sandy Alcantara from 2020 to 2023, Johnny Cueto from 2012 to 2015, Ramon Martinez from 1995 to 1998, and Jose Rijo from 1992 to 1995, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.
Framber Valdez will join this list of Dominican-born pitchers to make at least 4 straight Opening Day starts:
1998-2005 Pedro Martínez: 8
1964-69 Juan Marichal: 6
1982-86 Mario Soto: 5
2020-23 Sandy Alcántara: 4
2012-15 Johnny Cueto: 4
1995-98 Ramón Martínez: 4
1992-95 José…— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 16, 2025
The 31-year-old from Sabana Grande de Palenque, Dominican Republic, has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Astros. Across 157 appearances, including 135 starts, he has compiled a 68-41 record with a 3.30 ERA, a 15.1 WAR, and a 1.195 WHIP. He has also thrown seven complete games and three shutouts over 888.2 innings, allowing 741 hits, 326 earned runs, 72 home runs, 321 walks, and striking out 866 batters.
Valdez set career bests in 2024 with a 4.4 WAR and a 1.106 WHIP. He finished the season with a 15-7 record and a 2.91 ERA in 28 starts. Over 176.1 innings, he allowed 140 hits, 57 earned runs, and 13 home runs while striking out 169 batters and walking 55.
The Astros avoided arbitration this offseason by signing Valdez to a one-year, $18 million contract on January 9. The deal, his final before free agency, includes a 7.47 percent league tax rate under MLB’s payroll structure.
During spring training, Valdez has made four starts, recording a 1-0 record with a 2.53 ERA. Over 10.2 innings, he has allowed nine hits, three earned runs, and eight walks while striking out 10.
According to Baseball Savant, his curveball averages 79.7 mph and has held opposing hitters to a .121 batting average, with a 39.8 percent whiff rate and a 25.6 percent putaway percentage.
The Astros finished the 2024 season with an 88-73 record, clinching the American League West title before being swept by the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card Series.
As Houston enters manager Joe Espada‘s second season, Valdez will anchor a rotation that includes Ronel Blanco, Cristian Javier, Spencer Arrighetti, and Lance McCullers Jr. Meanwhile, the team is evaluating additional options, with Hayden Wesneski, J.P. France, Hunter Brown, and Luis Garcia competing for roster spots ahead of Opening Day.
With pitchers Justin Verlander now in San Francisco and Jose Urquidy in Motown, plus longtime teammates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman no longer in Houston, Valdez enters 2025 as the undisputed leader of the Astros’ rotation. In his contract year, he looks to make an impact again in the Cy Young race after finishing in the top ten for three straight seasons. If he delivers another dominant campaign, he could position himself for a significant free-agent payday next winter.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
