Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, a two-time All-Star, was unable to start Monday’s game due to elbow soreness. Valdez felt discomfort while playing catch on Sunday and traveled to Houston on Monday to be checked by team doctors. Originally scheduled to pitch against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Valdez’s status remains uncertain pending further evaluation.
Manager Joe Espada and general manager Dana Brown have emphasized that Valdez has not yet been placed on the 15-day injured list. They are awaiting a more detailed assessment from the medical team: “The fact we didn’t put him on the IL is a good sign, we’ll see what the doctors say,” Espada stated. In the interim, the Astros have called up Blair Henley from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his MLB debut in Valdez’s absence.
Henley, a 2019 seventh-round draft pick out of Texas, struggled in his debut game against the Rangers, allowing five runs in the first inning. Valdez, who has been a key player for the Astros in recent seasons, was off to a strong start this year with a 2.19 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over two starts.
Concerns about pitcher injuries have been heightened following recent news of prominent players like Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, and Eury Pérez being placed on the injured list due to elbow issues. The MLB Players Association has raised questions about the correlation between injuries and the increasing demands on pitchers, as well as the implications of rules such as the pitch clock. These developments have sparked discussions about injury prevention strategies in modern baseball.
