Framber Valdez

Active

Detroit Tigers · Pitcher

Age 325' 11" · 230 lbsThrows Left

FBaseball Overview

At 32 years old, this crafty left-hander enters 2026 coming off a solid 2025 campaign where he posted a 3.66 ERA with 187 strikeouts across 192 innings, cementing his role as a reliable mid-rotation starter for Detroit. His track record of All-Star selections and All-MLB honors through 2024 speaks to his pedigree, though early 2026 metrics suggest some decline with a 4.05 ERA and 1.33 WHIP through 95.2 innings. Fantasy managers should view him as a dependable depth arm in wins and strikeouts leagues, but the uptick in ERA and slight dip in peripherals warrant caution regarding consistency at this stage of his career. With continued workload management expected, target him as a back-end starter rather than a frontline fantasy asset.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2018	Houston Astros	8	5	4	1	2.19	1.24	34	37.0	24
2019	Houston Astros	26	8	4	7	5.86	1.67	68	70.2	44
2020	Houston Astros	11	10	5	3	3.57	1.12	76	70.2	16
2021	Houston Astros	22	22	11	6	3.14	1.25	125	134.2	58
2022	Houston Astros	31	31	17	6	2.82	1.16	194	201.1	67
2023	Houston Astros	31	31	12	11	3.45	1.13	200	198.0	57
2024	Houston Astros	28	28	15	7	2.91	1.11	169	176.1	55
2025	Houston Astros	31	31	13	11	3.66	1.24	187	192.0	68
2026	Detroit Tigers	18	18	4	6	4.29	1.38	78	100.2	36
Career	Totals	206	184	85	58	3.44	1.22	1131	1181.1	425

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	DSL Astros Blue	16	0	4	1	3	3.68	1.45	36	36.2	17
2016	4 teams▼	14	11	4	5	0	3.19	1.24	79	73.1	23
2017	2 teams▼	25	18	7	8	1	4.16	1.39	126	110.1	52
2018	2 teams▼	22	14	6	5	1	4.11	1.28	129	103	32
2019	Round Rock Express	10	7	5	2	1	3.25	1.04	69	44.1	17
2021	Sugar Land Skeeters	2	2	0	1	0	1.29	1.57	5	7.0	2
Career	Totals	89	52	26	22	6	3.75	1.30	444	374.2	143

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo93.9 mph

Avg Spin2273 rpm

Whiff %20.1%

K %17.6%

BB %8.1%

Hard Hit %42.3%

Barrel %6.9%

xERA4.40

xBA Against0.255

xSLG Against0.406

BA Against0.260

SLG Against0.391

GB%52.3%

FB%22.7%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2018

Houston Astros

2.19

1.24

37.0

2019

Houston Astros

5.86

1.67

70.2

2020

Houston Astros

3.57

1.12

70.2

2021

Houston Astros

3.14

1.25

125

134.2

2022

Houston Astros

2.82

1.16

194

201.1

2023

Houston Astros

3.45

1.13

200

198.0

2024

Houston Astros

2.91

1.11

169

176.1

2025

Houston Astros

3.66

1.24

187

192.0

2026

Detroit Tigers

4.29

1.38

100.2

Career

Totals

206

184

3.44

1.22

1131

1181.1

425

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

DSL Astros Blue

3.68

1.45

36.2

2016

4 teams▼

3.19

1.24

73.1

2017

2 teams▼

4.16

1.39

126

110.1

2018

2 teams▼

4.11

1.28

129

103

2019

Round Rock Express

3.25

1.04

44.1

2021

Sugar Land Skeeters

1.29

1.57

7.0

Career

Totals

3.75

1.30

444

374.2

143