ATLANTA BRAVES (88-73, 7-3 in postseason) vs. HOUSTON ASTROS (95-67, 7-3 in postseason)
RHP Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.77) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (1-0, 4.20)
World Series Game 1
October 26, 2021 • 8:09 p.m. • Minute Maid Park • Houston, TX • FOX
ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Astros open the 117th World Series tonight…These clubs have not met since the 2017 regular season, and have not played in the postseason since the 2005 National League Division Series.
• The Astros swept the 2017 season series from Atlanta, winning all four games, and have won five straight games over the Braves, dating to June 26, 2014.
• The last time the Braves beat the Astros was June 25, 2014…The winning pitcher was LHP Alex Wood, and 12 of the 13 players who appeared in that 4-0 victory for Atlanta are no longer in the organization…1B Freddie Freeman is the lone holdout from that game that is still with the club.
• The Braves have won their last three games in this building, after playing here during the 2020 postseason…They swept the best-of-five series NLDS with Miami, outscoring the Marlins 18-5 and hitting five home runs.
• This will mark the clubs’ sixth postseason matchup and first since Houston moved to the American League in 2013…The Braves won the first three postseason series with Houston, sweeping the 1997 NLDS, before winning the 1999 NLDS, 3-1…They then swept the 2001 NLDS, before losing the 2004 NLDS in five games and the 2005 NLDS in four games.
• RHP Charlie Morton is 7-6 with a 5.05 ERA (41 ER/73.0 IP) in 14 career regular season and postseason games, all starts, against the Houston Astros…The 37-year-old righty’s last three turns against the Astros all came in the postseason with Tampa Bay, and he won each game, compiling a 0.57 ERA (1 ER/15.2 IP)…His last two starts in this building, however, were losses, with the last coming in 2019 and the first in 2011.
• LHP Framber Valdez has never faced the Braves, and has only faced two of the hitters in Atlanta’s starting lineup tonight: Eddie Rosario (1-for-3) and Jorge Soler (1-for-2)…The 27-year-old lefty is 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA (12 ER/39.0 IP) in seven career postseason games, six starts…He beat the Red Sox, 9-1, in Game 5 of the ALCS, tossing 8.0 innings and allowing one run.
THE PENNANT: The Braves beat the Dodgers four games-to-two to win to the National League pennant for the first time since 1999…Since the first World Series in 1903, the Braves have played for the title nine times previous, going 3-6…They won the World Series in 1914, 1957 and 1995.
• Since the Braves last played in the World Series, 10 of the current 15 National League teams have won the pennant, including all four of the club’s NL East rivals…The only NL teams not to make the World Series since 2000 are Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Milwaukee.
GAME 1: The Braves are 1-1 in Game 1s of this postseason, losing the postseason opener in Milwaukee, 2-1, before beating the Dodgers in Atlanta, 3-2.
• The Braves are set to play their 41st Game 1 of a playoff round today (that total does not include a wild card game loss in 2012), and are 19-21 (.475) in these games…They won the opener of all three rounds of the 2020 postseason to snap a nine-game losing streak in playoff series openers.
• The Braves were the road team for the NLCS last season, which was played at a neutral site (Globe Life Field in Texas)…The last time the Braves won a road Game 1 in the opponent’s home park was 2001, when they beat the Astros, 7-4, in Houston.
STREAKING: The Braves have won 19 of their last 24 games (.792), dating to September 19 in San Francisco.
• They have outscored the opposition 119-72 (+47) over this stretch, and four of their five losses were by two runs or less.
• The Braves have not lost consecutive games since a four-game losing streak, September 14-September 18 vs. Colorado and at San Francisco.
• Atlanta did lose on September 23 to Arizona before dropping the completion of a suspended the next day in San Diego…That game, however, counted in the team’s game log on the day it began, July 21.
ON THE ROAD: The Braves will play Game 1 and Game 2 here in Houston before traveling to Atlanta for the next three games…The Braves went 46-35 (.568) away from Truist Park this season, tied for the fifth-best road record in the majors.
• Since 2018 and the start of this four-season playoff run for Atlanta, the Braves are the second-best road team in the majors with a mark of 156-117 (.571) in the regular season.
OVER .500: The Braves did not get over .500 until August 5, when they beat St. Louis, 8-4, to improve to 55-54 (according to the record books, the Braves were not .500 at that time due to a suspended game on July 21 that they would finish and lose on September 24… The official game log does not have the Braves moving over .500 until August 6).
• After August 5, the Braves had a winning record for the rest of the season (again, according to the official record books, the club was 56-56 after a loss to Washington on August 7…But in real time, the club was over .500 every day after August 5).
• The Braves were the 28th team in baseball to move over .500…The other two teams, Miami and Texas, never got over .500.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, August 6 is the latest first-day-over .500 date for a team that made the World Series…The previous record of August 3 was held by the 1914 Boston Braves.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher
#50 Charlie Morton
RHP • 6-5 • 235 • 37 yrs
2021 Record: 14-6, 3.34 ERA • 2020 Record: 2-2, 4.74 ERA
2021 Postseason: 0-1, 3.77 ERA • Career Postseason: 7-4, 3.45 ERA
vs. RHB: .221 (79-357), 9 HR • vs. LHB: .183 (57-312), 7 HR
Tonight’s Game
• Set for his 16th career postseason start and his 17th overall playoff outing…Makes his fourth start of this postseason after pitching Games 1 and 4 of the NLDS vs. Milwaukee, and Game 3 of the NLCS at Los Angeles.
• Is 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA (29 ER/75.2 IP) in his career in the postseason, including a 5-2 record and a 2.64 ERA (13 ER/44.1 IP) since 2019.
• Has pitched in three games and made two starts in the World Series, going 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA (7 ER/14.2) in the Fall Classic.
• Started Game 3 of the 2020 World Series last season for Tampa Bay, and allowed seven hits and five runs over 4.1 innings to take the loss.
• Pitched in two games for the Astros during the 2017 World Series, and allowed just two runs over 10.1 innings…Pitched the final four innings of Game 7 to earn the win over Los Angeles.
• Has started Game 1 of a postseason series twice in his career, including in the NLDS vs. Milwaukee on October 8.
• Has combined to allowed just three runs, two earned, over 11.0 total innings in Game 1, going 1-1 in these games…Milwaukee shut out Atlanta, 2-0, in his Game 1 start in the Division Series.
• Morton has made 11 career starts against Houston in the regular season, and is 4-6 with a 6.28 ERA (40 ER/57.1 IP) against the Astros…His 6.28 ERA is his highest against any team he has ever faced.
• Despite his struggles with Houston in the regular season, Morton is 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA against the Astros in the playoffs, allowing just 10 hits and one run over 15.2 innings while striking out 20.
• Morton beat the Astros twice in the 2020 ALCS while with the Rays, pitching 10.2 scoreless innings.
• In Game 7 of the 2020 ALCS vs. Houston, recorded his fourth career win in a “winner take all” game, extending his own major league record…Marked his fifth career win in a potential elimination game, breaking a tie with five other pitchers for the most in major league history.
• Morton made six starts over September and October, going 2-1 and pitching to a 2.60 ERA (10 ER/34.2 IP).
• Morton struck out 35 batters over 34.2 innings in his last month, and struck out 216 batters on the season, sixth most in the NL and the second most he has ever fanned in a single season.
• He is the first Braves pitcher with a 200-strikeout season since Mike Foltynewicz fanned 202 in 2018…Morton’s final total is the most for an Atlanta starter since Javier Vazquez struck out 238 in 2009.
• Led the majors with 127 strikeouts recorded on the curveball…The next closest is Toronto’s José Berríos with 97…Since joining the Houston Astros prior to the 2017 season, Morton has logged 479 strikeouts via the curveball, also most in the majors and over 40 more than any other pitcher…Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola ranks second, with 438.
2021 Recap
• Played his 14th career major league season and pitched to a 14-6 record and a 3.34 ERA (69 ER/185.2 IP) over a career high-tying 33 starts…Struck out 216.
• NL Ranks: Starts (T1st, 33), Opponents Average (5th, .203), Wins (T5th, 14), Winning Percentage (T5th, .700), Strikeouts (6th, 216), Innings (T7th, 185.2)
• The Braves on September 6 signed Morton to a one-year contract for the 2022 season, worth $20 million, with a $20 million club option for 2023 that does not include a buyout.
• The 6-foot-5, 215-pound native of Flemington, NJ, signed a one-year deal worth $15 million with the Braves this past offseason after helping the Tampa Bay Rays to the American League pennant in 2020.
• Earned his 100th victory, June 22 at New York-NL.
• Morton also earned his first career win while with Atlanta, June 14, 2008 at the Angels, in his major league debut…He became the first pitcher since the Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo in 2003 to earn their first and 100th wins with the same team, while earning wins elsewhere in between.
• Morton made his season debut, 4/3 at PHI, and returned to the Braves this offseason on a one-year contract worth $15 million… With his first start this season, Morton went 12 years, 194 days between Braves appearances.
• According to research from the Elias Sports Bureau, only four other Braves in the modern era (since 1900) had a gap of at least 12 years between appearances, with Bucky Walters’ 17-year, 302-day span the longest.
Career Recap
• A 14-year major league veteran, has compiled a 107-95 record and a 4.00 ERA (722 ER/1625.0 IP) across 292 games, 291 starts…Has fanned 1,492 and pitched a pair of shutouts.
• Has pitched for Atlanta (2008, ’21), Pittsburgh (2009-15), Philadelphia (2016), Houston (2017-18) and Tampa Bay (2019-20).
Braves Bullpen Briefs
Jesse Chavez • RHP • 6-1 • 175 • 37 yrs • #60
Saves/Opp: 0/1 Holds: 2 1st Batter/Retired: 26/17 Inherited Runners/Scored: 12/5
• Pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in four relief appearances this postseason and a perfect inning in his lone start.
• Made one scoreless appearance with Chicago (NL) in the 2018 Wild Card Round.
• His 2.03 FIP is the sixth lowest in the majors (min 20.0 IP).
• Twenty-one of his 26 relief appearances have been scoreless since joining Atlanta.
• Has a 2.57 ERA in four starts and 2.03 ERA in in 26 relief appearances with the Braves this season.
• Spend the 2020 season with Texas…Had a 6.88 ERA in 18 appearances.
Luke Jackson • RHP • 6-2 • 210 • 29 yrs • #77
Saves/Opp: 0/4 Holds: 31 1st Batter/Retired: 71/47 Inherited Runners/Scored: 27/7
• Appeared in eight postseason games in 2021 and pitched to 9.00 ERA…Six of his eight appearances were scoreless.
• Made three postseason appearances in the 2019 NLDS against St. Louis, and pitched to a 10.13 ERA.
• His 59 scoreless appearances are tied for the fifth most in MLB.
• Ranks second in the majors with 31 holds this season.
• Owns the third highest left-on-base percentage among all pitchers in the majors at 90.2% (min. 45.0 IP)…Trails only Josh Hader (91.7%) and Ian Kennedy (91.1%).
• His 14 earned runs allowed are the second fewest in baseball among pitchers with as many outings.
• Along with teammate Will Smith, led the Braves with 71 appearances this season, the most by an Atlanta pitcher since Luis Avilán played in 75 games in 2013.
Dylan Lee • LHP • 6-3 • 214 • 27 yrs • #74
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 2/1 Inherited Runners/Scored: 0/0
• Made his postseason debut on 10/21 at Los Angeles, allowing one run over 2.0 innings of relief.
• Made his major league debut on 10/1 vs. NYM, tossing a scoreless inning in relief…He was originally called up on September 22, but was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on September 25 without appearing.
• Pitched to a 1.58 ERA (8 ER/45.2 IP) with a record of 5-1 and one save with 52 strikeouts in 34 relief appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett this season.
• Originally drafted by the Miami Marlins in 10th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from California State University, Fresno…Signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves in on April 15, 2021.
Chris Martin • RHP • 6-8 • 225 • 35 yrs • #55
Saves/Opp: 1/3 Holds: 13 1st Batter/Retired: 45/30 Inherited Runners/Scored: 3/2
• Finished his third season with Atlanta with one save, 13 holds and a 3.95 ERA (19 ER/43.1 IP) in 46 outings.
• Averaged 1.25 walks per nine innings this year, the third lowest rate in the majors (min. 40 app).
• Averaging 1.31 walks per nine innings pitched this year, third lowest rate in baseball (min. 40 app.).
• Pitched to a 3.32 ERA before the All-Star Break and a 4.57 ERA after the break
• Tossed the sixth immaculate inning in franchise history, 9/11/19 at Philadelphia, fanning César Hernández, Jay Bruce, and Logan Morrison on nine total pitches.
Tyler Matzek • LHP • 6-3 • 210 • 30 yrs • #68
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 24 1st Batter/Retired: 69/45 Inherited Runners/Scored: 28/3
• Has 11 strikeouts with RISP this postseason, tied for the most by a reliever in a single postseason since John Rocker with Atlanta in 1999 (credit to Stats Perform).
• Is the only pitcher this postseason to inherit at least five runners and strand them all.
• Appeared in each of the Braves’ first eight games this postseason, setting a new franchise-record mark and tying the MLB record held by Jesse Orosco, Wade Davis and Greg Holland for consecutive outings to open a postseason.
• Celebrated his 31st birthday on 10/19 with a perfect inning of relief…It was his 12th scoreless outing of at least 1.0 inning in 14 career postseason appearances, trailing only Mark Wohlers’ 24 such appearances for the most in Braves postseason history.
• Is one of three Braves in franchise history (dating to 1901) to pitch to a sub-1.00 ERA in his first 12 postseason appearances and first since John Rocker between the 1998-’99 postseasons.
• Entered his second postseason while owning a 1.04 ERA (1 ER/8.2 IP) in seven relief appearances during Atlanta’s 2020 postseason run.
• Stranded 25 of 28 inherited runners…His 89.3% strand rate is the highest in baseball (min. 25 IR).
• Pitched to a 1.93 ERA in 47 appearances after allowing three runs on June 1 against Washington.
• Ranked second in the majors in strikeouts (120), second in innings (92.0 IP) and tied for third in FIP (2.81 – min. 65.0 IP) among lefty relievers since the beginning of the 2020 season.
A.J. Minter • LHP • 6-0 • 215 • 27 yrs • #33
Saves/Opp: 0/6 Holds: 23 1st Batter/Retired: 61/45 Inherited Runners/Scored: 24/4
• Is 1-0 with a blown save and a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/15.1 IP) in 11 relief appearances and one start in the postseason.
• Faced Los Angeles in the 2018 NLDS and 2020 NLCS…Pitched 0.2 scoreless innings in relief against Cincinnati in the 2020 Wild Card Series and a scoreless innings against Miami in the NLDS in 2020.
• Owns a 2.75 FIP ove the last two seasons, second lowest among lefty relievers behind only Josh Hader (min. 65 IP).
• Made his first career start in Game 5 of the NLCS in 2020… Minter became the first pitcher in major league history to make his first career start in the postseason… Held Los Angeles to one hit while fanning seven without issuing a walk over 3.0 scoreless innings during his start.
• Became the first pitcher in postseason history to strike out at least seven batters in an outing of three innings or fewer, and just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to do so in any game…Jesse Biddle was the last to do so, fanning eight Nationals in 3.0 innings of relief on June 2, 2018…Minter fanned five consecutive batters to end his outing, tying the NLCS record.
Will Smith • LHP • 6-5 • 255 • 31 yrs • #51
Saves/Opp: 37/43 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 71/48 Inherited Runners/Scored: 1/1
• Is one of three pitchers to have at least two wins and four saves in a single postseason and first since Aroldis Chapman with Chicago (NL) in 2016…Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera also did it in 1999 and 2001.
• Recorded his first career postseason save on 10/9 in Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee…Converted three save opportunities in Games 2, 3, and 4.
• Played in two postseasons, with Atlanta in 2020 and San Francisco in 2016…Owns a 1.88 ERA and a 4-2 record in 16 postseason relief appearances.
• His 37 saves were the fourth most in the majors…Converted 37 of 43 opportunities for an 86% conversion rate.
• Leads Atlanta with 37 saves this year, the most by an Atlanta reliever since Craig Kimbrel had 47 saves in 2014.
• Per Baseball Reference, has the most appearances in high-leverage situations with 50…Kenley Jansen is the next closest with 45…For reference, MLB saves leader, Mark Melancon, has only appeared in 31 such situations.
• Was 1-5 with a 4.74 ERA prior to June 10…Since then he has pitched to a 2.70 ERA with 26 saves.
Drew Smyly • LHP • 6-2 • 188 • 32 yrs • #18
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 6/5 Inherited Runners/Scored: 0/0
• Became the eighth Braves pitcher to toss at least 3.1 innings in relief in a postseason game and first since Huascar Ynoa threw 4.0 innings out of the pen in last year’s NLCS.
• Pitched to a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP) in 10 relief appearances with Detroit in the 2012 and 2013 postseasons.
• Owns a 4.75 ERA in 23 starts and a 1.64 ERA in six relief appearances (11.0 IP) this season…Has a career 4.32 ERA as a starter and a 3.32 ERA as a reliever…Made his first 23 appearances in the rotation, and pitched his final six games out of the bullpen…Went 9-4 with a 4.75 ERA (61 ER/115.2 IP) as a starter and 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) in relief.
• For his career, has an ERA a full run lower out of the bullpen, pitching to a 4.32 ERA in 718.0 innings as a starter and a 3.32 ERA over 119.1 innings in relief.
Kyly Wright • RHP • 6-4 • 215 • 26 yrs • #30
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 0/0 Inherited Runners/Scored: 0/0
• Started two games for Atlanta this season going 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA…Is 2-8 with a 6.56 ERA in 14 starts and 21 appearances for the Braves throughout his career.
• Went 10-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 24 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett this season…Finished 8-1 with a 2.11 ERA over his last 12 starts to end the year…Was 2-4 with a 4.18 ERA in his first 12 outings with the Stripers.
• Was drafted fifth overall in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros and Braves will open the 117th World Series tonight in Houston with a 7:09 p.m. CT first pitch…the Astros will start LHP Framber Valdez, who was magnificent in his last postseason start in Game 5 of the ALCS at BOS (1ER/8IP)…he’ll be opposed by former Astros great RHP Charlie Morton, who pitched for the club in 2017-18, making five postseason appearances for the Astros in their 2017 World Series run.
AT THE HELM: Astros Manager Dusty Baker is now the ninth manager in MLB history to win the pennant in both leagues (also the 2002 Giants)…at 72 years old, he’s also the second-oldest manager to win a pennant in MLB history, trailing only Jack McKeon in 2003 (also 72)…Baker ranks eighth all-time in postseason managerial wins with 38, including a 15-8 record in the postseason as the Astros manager…by virtue of the Astros AL West title this season, Baker is the only manager in MLB history to win division titles with five different clubs (Astros, Nationals, Reds, Cubs, Giants).
BACK IN THE CLASSIC: The Astros are playing in their fourth World Series in franchise history, previously doing so in 2005, 2017 and 2019…results from those World Series appearances:
ASTROS WORLD SERIES APPS. RESULT
2005 Astros vs. White Sox White Sox in 4
2017 Astros vs. Dodgers Astros in 7
2019 Astros vs. Nationals Nationals in 7
WE MEET AGAIN: This is the sixth postseason series between the Astros and Braves, as the two clubs met in the NLDS on five occasions (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)…the Braves owned the Astros in the first three series, combining for a 9-1 record in that span… Houston returned the favor in 2004 and 2005, winning those series in five and four games apiece…the 2004 NLDS, won by the Astros in five games, marked the Astros first postseason series victory in club history.
ABOUT THE ALCS: The Astros won the ALCS in six games, rolling the Red Sox in the final three games of the series by a combined score of 23-3…DH Yordan Alvarez was named the ALCS MVP after hitting .522 (12×23) with five extra-base hits and six RBI in the series, including a 7×9 performance in Games 5-6…1B Yuli Gurriel also had a strong series, hitting .455 (10×22) with six RBI…LHP Framber Valdez made two starts in the series, including one 8.0-inning performance…RHP Cristian Javier chipped in with 5.0 scoreless innings across two relief appearances.
GAME 6 CLINCHER: The Astros punched their ticket to the World Series with a 5-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 6 of the ALCS on Friday night… the win marked just the seventh combined shutout by the Astros in their postseason history and their first since Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS vs. NYY (4-0 win)… RHP Luis Garcia (0ER/5.2IP) was the hero, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning en route to the victory… DH Yordan Avarez (4×4, RBI) and RF Kyle Tucker (1×4, 3RBI) provided the offense.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Astros are averaging 6.7 runs per game this postseason, scoring five or more runs in nine of their 10 contests…the Astros have homered in all 10 of their postseason games this season, a streak that ranks tied for the second longest in a single postseason in franchise history…the current record is held by the 2004 Astros, who homered in all 12 of their postseason games.
TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros scored 36 runs in the ALCS, scoring 27 two-out runs, the most in a single postseason series in Major League history…overall this postseason, the Astros have plated 45 of their 67 runs with two outs.
ABOUT THE ROSTER: The Astros announced the team’s 26-man active roster for the 2021 World Series, which includes 13 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders…compared to the club’s ALCS roster, IF Marwin Gonzalez is the only addition, with OF Jake Meyers being moved to the Taxi Squad.
SILVER SLUGGER FINALISTS: Announced yesterday, the Astros have five finalists for AL Silver Slugger Awards at their respective positions: 1B Yuli Gurriel, 2B Jose Altuve, SS Carlos Correa, OF Kyle Tucker and DH Yordan Alvarez…Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced on MLB Network in a one-hour telecast at 5 p.m. CT on Nov. 11.
ABOUT THE MVP: DH Yordan Alvarez put on a spectacular performance to earn ALCS MVP…notes from MLB Network on his series below:
• Alvarez became the fourth Cuban-born player in MLB history to be named an LCS MVP, joining OF Randy Arozarena in the 2020 ALCS, RHP Orlando Hernández in the 1999 ALCS and RHP Liván Hernández in the 1997 NLCS.
• Alvarez became the fifth Astros player with a four-hit game in a potential series-clinching game in postseason history, also Yuli Gurriel in Game 3 of the 2017 ALDS, Carlos Correa in Game 4 of the 2015 ALDS, Carlos Beltrán in Game 5 of the 2004 NLDS and Terry Puhl
in Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS.
• Alvarez’s .522 avg. in the series is the sixth-highest in a single postseason series in MLB history (min. 25 PA).
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: LHP FRAMBER VALDEZ
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2021: 11-6 3.14 22 22 134.2 110 52 47 58 125
CAREER: 24-17 374 67 44 313.0 269 145 130 142 303
vs. ATL W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
CAREER MLB SPLITS:
Home/MMP: 13-5, 3.45 ERA, 34G/24GS, 60ER/156.1IP
Away: 11-12, 4.02 ERA, 33G/21GS, 70ER/156.2IP
Day: 6-6, 3.25 ERA, 24G/14GS, 40ER/110.2IP
Night: 18-11, 4.00 ERA, 43G/31GS, 90ER/202.1IP
Longest Winning Streak: 6, 9/17/20-6/19/21
Longest Losing Streak: 4, 6/20-7/15/19
2021 SPLITS:
Home: 5-2, 3.45 ERA, 11G/GS, 24ER/62.2IP
Away: 6-4, 2.88 ERA, 11G/GS, 23ER/72IP
Day: 2-2, 2.51 ERA, 7G/GS, 12ER/43IP
Night: 9-4, 3.44 ERA, 15G/GS, 35ER/91.2IP
Longest Winning Streak: 4, 6/2-6/19
Longest Losing Streak: 1 (6x), last, 10/1
Career Complete Games: 1 Last CG: 6/26/21 at DET (6IP)
Career Shutouts: none Last SHO: none
CAREER MLB GAME-HIGHS: 2021 GAME-HIGHS:
Strikeouts: 11 (2x), last, 9/17/20 vs. TEX 10, 6/2 vs. BOS
Walks: 6 (3x), 7/24 vs. TEX 6 (2x), 7/24 vs. TEX
Hits: 11, 9/6/20 at LAA 10, 7/6 vs. OAK
Earned Runs: 8, 9/6/20 at LAA 5, 7/6 vs. OAK
Innings Pitched: 7.2, 8/19/20 at COL 7.1, 6/8 at BOS
Low-Hit CG: 6, 6/26/21 at DET (6IP) 6, 6/26 at DET (6IP)
LAST START – 10/20 at BOS (ALCS Game 5): turned in a magical performance, bouncing back from a shaky Game 1 start (2ER/2.2IP), by tossing 8.0 innings of 1-run ball in Game 5 of the ALCS in Boston…took a no-hitter into the 5th, ultimately allowing just 3 hits and a walk on the night…allowed the run on a solo homer down the right field line by 3B Rafael Devers.
• became just the fourth Astros pitcher since 2000 to toss 8.0-plus innings in a postseason game, joining RHP Gerrit Cole (8IP, 2019 ALDS Game 5), RHP Justin Verlander (9IP, 2017 ALCS Game 2) and RHP Brandon Backe (8IP, 2004 NLCS Game 5)…his 8.0 innings pitched marked a career high.
ABOUT FRAMBER: 27-year-old left-hander made 22 starts in the regular season and has started three times this postseason.
• missed the club’s first 49 games while on the IL (March 29-May 28) with a left index finger fracture…injured the finger in his first game of Spring Training on March 2 at NYM.
• from his first start of the season on May 28 through the end of the campaign, he was one of the best pitchers in the AL…since that date, he ranked T-1st in wins (11), 4th in ERA (3.14) and 4th in innings (134.2)… also posted the highest ground ball percentage (70.3%) in the Majors.
• allowed just 12 HR in his 134.2 regular season innings pitched this season for a 0.80 home runs per 9.0 ratio, 3rd lowest in the AL min. 120 IP)… went 6 consecutive starts without allowing a homer from July 24-Aug. 22, tossing 37.1 innings in those outings.
LEFT ON LEFT: has held left-handed hitters to a .209 batting average (53×253) and a .638 OPS (.338 OBP/.300 SLG) in his regular season MLB career…has allowed just 4 homers to a lefty in his 4 MLB seasons, with 2 coming in on start earlier this season on Sept. 20 vs. LAA (Ohtani, Walsh). • in 2021, was slightly better against righties than lefties…lefties hit .225 (18×80) with a .717 OPS off Valdez, compared to righties hitting .219 (92×421) with a .626 OPS off the lefty. vs. ATL: is facing the Braves for the first time in his career tonight and shockingly has not faced an NL Eastern team in the regular season… does have pitching appearances against OF Eddie Rosario (1×5) and OF Jorge Soler (1×2).
IN THE POST: has posted a 4.20 ERA (7ER/15IP) in his 3 starts this postseason…overall, in 7 career postseason appearances, is 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA (12ER/39IP) with 15 walks and 39 strikeouts…was the Astros best Postseason pitcher in 2020, making 4 appearances.
• made his postseason debut in Game 1 of the 2020 Wild Card Series at MIN…earned the win in relief after finishing the game with 5.0 scoreless innings…gave up just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts…became the 13th pitcher in MLB history to finish a postseason game with 5.0+ scoreless relief innings, and the first to do it since Madison Bumgarner ended Game 7 of the 2014 World Series at KC with 5.0 scoreless relief innings…became the first AL pitcher to do this since Pedro Martinez in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS at CLE.
• also started Game 1 of the 2020 ALCS at TB…at 26 years, 327 days old, became the third-youngest pitcher in franchise history to start Game 1 of a postseason series.
