Valdez pitched six innings and earned the win during Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine.

EDGE Analysis

The only blemish on the night for Valdez came on a solo home run from Kyle Schwarber in the top of the sixth inning. The southpaw's sinker was electric in Game 6 -- of the nine outs from balls in play, his sinker forced six ground outs. The other nine outs came from strikeouts, the third consecutive game for Valdez with nine punchouts. The 28-year-old finished the postseason 3-0 with a stellar 1.44 ERA and 33 strikeouts across 25 innings. Valdez was arguably the best pitcher on the Houston staff and a major contributor to their postseason success.

Valdez pitched 6.1 innings and earned the win during Saturday's 5-2 win over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez gave the Astros a much-needed performance in Game 2, keeping the red-hot Phillies' lineup off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 28-year-old had great control with his curveball Saturday, and he recorded five of his nine K's via the breaking ball. Valdez has been outstanding in the playoffs -- he has allowed only three earned runs in 19 innings during the postseason while amassing 24 strikeouts. The southpaw finished the regular season at 17-6 with a 2.82 ERA, but he looks even better in the playoffs.

Valdez pitched seven innings and got the win Thursday night in Game 2 of the ALCS, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out nine during the 3-2 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez had just one stressful inning Thursday night, which came in the fourth when he bobbled a comebacker from Giancarlo Stanton and compiled the mistake with a throwing error to first base. Two runs eventually scored in the inning, but the 28-year-old lefty was able to limit the damage by striking out Josh Donaldson and Kyle Higashioka, and he finished his outing by striking out the side in the seventh. The nine strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Valdez since he recorded nine against the Rays in 2020. The southpaw owns a 1.48 postseason ERA and 15 strikeouts over 12.2 innings.

Valdez (17-6) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two hits and one walk over five shut-out innings against Philadelphia. He struck out 10.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez was electric on Wednesday, running through hitters with a mix of curveballs, sinkers and cutters over the course of five innings. Eight of his 10 strikeouts were swinging, and he produced a total of 15 swinging strikes on the afternoon. It was a great bounce-back for Valdez after allowing 10 runs over his previous two starts. It was also just the second time since July 3 that that the left-hander recorded double-digit strikeouts in an outing.

Valdez (16-6) gave up six earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.1 innings to take the loss in a 7-3 defeat against the Rays on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez struggled for his second start in a row after putting together an MLB-record 25 consecutive quality starts earlier in the season. The Rays made plenty of contact and Valdez gave up six earned runs in a game for only the second time this year. Nevertheless, 2022 has been a breakout campaign for Valdez who significantly upped his workload by pitching 196.1 innings to date with an ERA of 2.89. Depending on how the Astros decide to structure their rotation in the playoffs, the left-hander could be in line to make one last regular season start against the Phillies.

Valdez did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez allowed just three hits through the first three innings as the Astros jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but things began to unravel for him in the fourth after giving up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Rougned Odor later singled to drive in Adley Rutschman and Ramon Urias before Cedric Mullins topped off the inning with a two-run shot. Though the right-hander was charged with only four of the seven runs that came across while he was on the mound, it was still the first time all season that Valdez allowed more than three runs in a start. It also snapped his MLB single-season record of 25 straight quality starts.

Valdez (16-5) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez tossed a complete-game shutout Monday against Detroit but threw just 87 pitches against Oakland on Sunday, marking just the second time that he hasn't thrown at least 100 pitches over his last 10 starts. However, the southpaw remained dominant and got plenty of run support from the Astros' offense to cruise to his seventh win over his last eight outings. Valdez has been incredibly consistent this season and set a major-league record Sunday by posting his 25th consecutive quality start. He tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Baltimore on Saturday.

Valdez (15-5) allowed six hits and a walk during a complete-game shutout Monday, striking out eight and earning a win over Detroit.

EDGE Analysis

Aside from a small jam in the first inning, Valdez didn't face much of a threat during his dominant victory. The 28-year-old southpaw tosses 72 of 107 pitches for strikes and forced 16 whiffs. He allowed three or fewer earned runs for the 24th consecutive start and lowered his season ERA to a stellar 2.50 with a 169:61 K:BB through 179.2 frames. He's struck out at least eight batters in four straight outings. Valdez is scheduled to start in Tampa Bay next week.

Valdez (14-5) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks over 6.2 innings against the Rangers. He struck out 11.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros uncharacteristically committed three errors Tuesday, causing two unearned runs to score against Valdez on the night. The southpaw allowed four walks for the second time in three starts but was mostly effective, as he recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season and likely would have completed seven innings if not for the errors. Valdez has remarkably thrown 23 straight quality starts. He will carry a 2.64 ERA into his next start.

Valdez (14-4) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight across eight innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez continued to build on his franchise record by recording his 22nd consecutive quality start. He surrendered a pair of solo home runs, but otherwise kept the Rangers in check. Valdez's key to success is typically groundball outs, but he has at least eight strikeouts in three of his last four starts -- aided by the fact that he's worked at least seven innings in each of those outings. For the season, he now owns a 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 150:46 K:BB across 164 frames.