Here's what injured finger could mean for Framber Valdez, Astros
INJURY UPDATE
04 March 2021
INJURY UPDATE
Framber Valdez injured the ring finger on his pitching hand on Tuesday, and the results of an X-ray showed a "slight fracture in that finger," according to Astros manager, Dusty Baker, who spoke about the injury on Thursday. You can see the play that caused the fracture in the video above. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported on Thursday that surgery has been recommended to repair the finger, and that could cause Valdez to miss the entire season.
With Valdez out, the Astros will explore all options, likely including free agents. Other options include in-house pitchers with good arms like Luis Garcia and Forrest Whitley. They had guys including Valdez emerge last year and may employ an “all hands on deck" approach to start https://t.co/oupF3wtPyU
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 4, 2021
For now, it looks like the Astros and their doctors are still evaluating the situation, and perhaps they will know more after the swelling goes down. Valdez was able to stay in the game after sustaining the injury on Tuesday, so there's a possibility this isn't a worst-case scenario for Valdez and the Astros. Either way, this is a big blow for Houston as Valdez looked like the best pitcher in the rotation by the end of the ALCS last year, and this will clearly impact his preparation for the season and possibly cause him to miss some time.
Isaac Paredes hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Owner of the Crawford Boxes. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/sn3gxOJqmG
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2025
The game was tied at 1 after a home run by Jeremy Peña in the sixth inning when Paredes led off the bottom of the ninth against John Schreiber (1-2). He sent his second pitch to left-center field for his fifth homer this season, giving Houston the win after Kansas City took the series opener Monday.
Both teams got strong outings from their starters. Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed six hits and a run with seven strikeouts in eight innings. Kris Bubic yielded six hits and a run and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Bryan Abreu (1-1) struck out one in a scoreless ninth for the win.
Hunter Renfroe doubled off the wall in left-center field with one out in the eighth. Valdez plunked Jonathan India on the foot with two outs, but he induced a groundout by Bobby Witt Jr. to end his night.
Maikel Garcia walked to open the fifth before a single by Vinnie Pasquantino sent him to third. The Royals took a 1-0 lead when Freddy Fermin singled on a ground ball to right field that scored Garcia.
Peña’s home run to left field tied it with no outs in the sixth.
TIE BALLGAME!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/wN7OAFUc8r
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 14, 2025
Jose Altuve followed with a double on a grounder down the third base line, but Bubic retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to leave him stranded.
Jake Meyers singled to start Houston’s seventh, but was out at second when Cam Smith grounded into a force out. Bubic was replaced by Lucas Erceg and he picked off Smith at first before striking out Brendan Rodgers to end the inning.
The home run by Paredes.
Peña has three homers, four doubles, 24 hits and 13 RBIs in 15 games since moving to the leadoff spot.
Kansas City RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon in the series finale Wednesday night. Gordon will be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his major league debut.