Framber Valdez

Valdez, 31, dealt his fair share of traffic but was able to keep that traffic from crossing the plate. He walked five in the contest, and he allowed five hits while striking out three in a start that could have gone so much worse. He's now the proud owner of a 3.09 ERA in 2025 with a K/BB ratio of 99/33 across 96 innings. Valdez will look to be a a little more efficient with similar results against the Phillies on Tuesday.

Butler and Soderstrom will take a seat against Astros lefty ace Framber Valdez with Max Schuemann taking over in left field and bumping up to the leadoff spot.

Valdez (7-4) recorded the win Thursday against the White Sox after giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out 12.

Valdez surrendered two runs on seven hits and a walk in the ballgame. Piling up strikeouts led to an increased pitch count though, which is why he was pulled after just five frames at 95 pitches (67 strikes). Edgar Quero did all of the damage against him with a pair of RBI singles after Miguel Vargas extra-base hits in the third and fifth innings. The 31-year-old left-hander got 20 whiffs on the night -- 12 of them on his curveball -- while posting an elite CSW of 36 percent. He'll see if he can eclipse double-digit strikeouts in three straight starts when he takes on the Athletics in West Sacramento on Wednesday.

It's time for another installment of our weekly MLB Mailbag. I'm pinch-hitting for Tim Dierkes once more this week before he takes back over next week. In today's mailbag, we'll look at Devin Williams' signature changeup, a group of potential first base targets on the trade market and what they might cost, Framber Valdez's earning…