O's game blog: Facing the challenge of Framber Valdez

Trying to build some momentum off last night's 7-5 win, the Orioles host Houston this afternoon in Game 3 of the four-game, weekend series.

Baltimore was down 5-2 in the eighth Friday night when Anthony Santander hit a go-ahead grand slam. They won to improve to 75-55 and stay within 1 1/2 games of first place New York. The O's hold the first American League wild card spot, leading Kansas City by two games and Minnesota by three.

Santander’s blast was the first go-ahead grand slam by an Oriole in the eighth inning or later since Pedro Álvarez did so on April 6, 2018 in Yankee Stadium (in the 14th, with the score tied 3-3). It was the first when trailing in the eighth or later since Manny Machado on Aug. 18, 2017 versus the Angels (9th, down 7-5), and the first when down by three runs in the eighth inning or later since Luke Scott on May 13, 2010 against Seattle (8th, down 5-2).

Right-hander Albert Suárez (6-4, 3.18 ERA), a pitcher who has thrown three straight scoreless starts, gets the ball today riding that scoreless run.

Over games versus Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston he has thrown 17 2/3 scoreless allowing 13 hits with three walks and 17 strikeouts. In those games he has yielded a .200 batting average and .466 OPS.

In his 17 starts only, Suárez is 5-4 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.335 WHIP. The Orioles are 9-8 in those games. He has really kept the ball in the ballpark well, allowing five homers in 84 2/3 innings for a homer per nine innings mark of 0.53.

Suárez faced Houston once this year and they jumped on him for four first-inning runs on June 23 at Minute Maid Park. He took the loss, allowing 10 hits and five runs over five innings that afternoon.

Lefty Framber Valdez (13-5. 3.20 ERA) gets the start for Houston. Houston has won Valdez’s past 10 starts, and in that span he is 8-0 with a 2.39 ERA and .585 OPS against.

Valdez, 30, has thrown 137 2/3 innings for the year with 1.140 WHIP, a 2.8 walks-per-nine-innings rate and 8.6 strikeouts.

He finished 11^th for the AL Cy Young Award in 2020, was fifth in 2022 and ninth last year.

In 84 starts since the 2022 season, Valdez is 42-22 with a 3.15 ERA and 1.142 WHIP.

He faced the Orioles once this year, getting the win at home on June 23. He went seven innings, allowing one run on 104 pitches when he pitched opposite Suárez.

In five career games (four starts) versus Baltimore, he is 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA and 1.361 WHIP. O’s batters have hit six homers off him in 28 2/3 innings, producing a .779 OPS against the lefty.

Austin Slater is batting leadoff today and playing left field. He is 6-for-9 in his career versus Valdez, with six singles and four RBIs. Santander is 4-for-11 with a homer against him and Adley Rutschman is 4-for-10 with a homer.  

New Hall of Famers: In a pregame ceremony today, the Orioles celebrated and honored right fielder Nick Markakis, first baseman/designated hitter Terry Crowley, and late scout Dick Bowie as the Orioles Hall of Fame class of 2024.

The Hall of Fame festivities kicked off with the luncheon yesterday and the new class moved the O's Hall of Fame to 85 members.

O's Hall of Famers here include Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Al Bumbry, Rick Dempsey, Tippy Martinez, Gregg Olson and Brian Roberts. Also here are Chris Davis, Matt Wieters, Adam Jones and Jim Johnson.

Tweet from the Orioles on Markakis. 

This roster note as game time arrives: Lefty pitcher Bruce Zimmermann has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.