Astros' Framber Valdez Returns Amid Pitch Controversy, Loses to Rangers

Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez made his first start since a controversial incident in which he unintentionally hit his catcher, César Salazar, in the chest with a pitch. Both Valdez and Salazar denied any intent behind the pitch, and Astros manager Joe Espada considered the matter resolved, with Salazar not in the lineup for Valdez's subsequent start. Valdez delivered a solid performance against the Texas Rangers, allowing four runs over seven innings, though a critical home run contributed to Houston's 4-2 loss. The Astros adjusted their rotation by pushing back Luis Garcia's start to allow Valdez to pitch in this important divisional game. Despite recent struggles, Valdez showed signs of regaining his form, with Espada expressing the need for more strong outings from the left-hander as Houston aims for a deep postseason run. The team is managing pitcher rotations carefully, balancing recovery and matchup strategies.