Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker on Saturday named left-hander Framber Valdez as the team’s starter for Monday’s Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.
Justin Verlander already had been tabbed the Astros’ starter in Game 1 of the matchup against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The Rangers are expected to send left-hander Jordan Montgomery to the mound in Game 1.
Valdez, 29, went 12-11 with a 3.45 ERA in 31 starts for Houston this season during which he was named an AL All-Star for the second time. Valdez also started Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Minnesota Twins and struggled, giving up five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in the Astros’ only loss of the matchup.
In 14 playoff appearances (13 starts) over the past four seasons, Valdez is 7-3 with a 3.82 ERA. In five career ALCS starts, he is 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA over 29 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Kendall Graveman will not be on the Astros’ ALCS roster because of continued right shoulder discomfort. Graveman, who last made an appearance Sept. 30, was not on the team’s ALDS roster.
Graveman was 2-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the Astros after he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in advance of the trade deadline.
–Field Level Media
