Houston Astros Ace Framber Valdez Set For Bullpen Session, Possible Return From Injury

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez is scheduled for a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to a report from the Houston Chronicle's Greg Rajan.

Barring any setbacks, Valdez is now expected to start Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics.

Valdez last appeared on July 15 against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing two home runs and five earned runs in 6.1 innings of work. After the game, manager Dusty Baker said Valdez exited with a left calf cramp, while Valdez told reporters he felt a little pull in his leg.

Baker went on Sports Talk 790 in Houston on Tuesday and said he was unsure if Valdez would be able to start Friday.

The sentiment seems to have changed, though, with confirmation of Valdez's status likely to come soon after his bullpen session wraps up. 

On the season, Valdez is 7-6 with a 2.76 ERA, 1.074 WHIP and 129 strikeouts. The 29-year-old lefty from the Dominican Republic was selected to his second-straight All-Star Game this summer, although he did not take the mound in Seattle this year.

The Astros are 4.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West, although they do currently hold the third and final AL Wild Card spot at 52-43. The Boston Red Sox are the next team out, trailing the Astros by 1.5 games.

Houston will wrap up its two-game road set with the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. ET before heading out to Oakland for a four-game road series against their divisional foe.

Baker told reporters on Wednesday that JP Long would start the series opener against the Athletics on Thursday, but would not commit to any starters after that.

Valdez is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA and 0.733 WHIP in two starts against Oakland this season.