With injuries to half of the Astros’ expected starting rotation and the recent collapse of #2 Cristian Javier, the outside-looking-in Astros cannot afford regression from ace Framber Valdez. But tonight Valdez’s trend of throwing fewer of his trademark groundouts continued.
Besides the four runs, eight hits, three walks and three wild pitches he surrendered, he allowed nine fly balls or line drives against nine groundballs, three of which were singles. Framber is just not Framber unless he’s keeping the ball on the ground. And the Astros have a smaller and smaller window to the playoffs without peak Framber.