Astros Ace Has Been the Most Clutch Pitcher in Baseball This Season

One of the major reasons that the Houston Astros have found as much success during the 2025 MLB regular season as they have is because of their pitching staff.

Despite having more than an entire starting rotation on the injured list, including Spencer Arrighetti, Hayden Wesneski and Ronel Blanco, who were all on the Opening Day roster, the team has found a way to keep chugging along.

One of the players anchoring the starting rotation has been ace, Framber Valdez.

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He has consistently been one of the most productive starting pitchers in baseball over the last few years, and this offseason he will have the opportunity to cash in accordingly as a free agent.

Valdez is only strengthening his case to receive a nine-figure deal despite him set to be 32 years old on Opening Day in 2026 because he continues to produce at a high level and has the kind of stuff that ages gracefully.

Not relying on overpowering opponents with high velocity, he induces soft contact and groundballs with the best of pitchers in the game.

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Through 16 starts this season, Valdez has a 2.88 ERA across 103 innings with 102 strikeouts. He has thrown two complete games and is on pace to make at least 31 starts and throw nearly 200 innings again.

His 139 ERA+ would be the highest since his rookie campaign when he threw only 37 innings, picking the perfect time to increase his production ahead of free agency.

Another reason that teams will be lining up to add him to their rotation is that he gets the job done in the toughest situations.

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As shared by Thomas Nestico on X, Valdez is the most clutch pitcher in baseball thus far in 2025.