HOUSTON — Houston Astros left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez made Major League Baseball history on Sunday by recording his 25th consecutive quality start in a single season.
Team manager Dusty Baker pulled Valdez after the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics with the Astros leading, 8-2. Valdez had only given up two earned runs.
The previous MLB record of 24 straight quality starts was set by right-handed Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom in 2018.
Before Sunday's game, Valdez had 15 wins and 5 losses in 2022 with a 2.57 ERA. As a team, the Astros had already clinched a postseason spot with a 95-51 record, making them the top team in the American League.
The MLB defines a quality start as when a pitcher plays at least six innings and allows three earned runs or fewer.
"A starting pitcher has two jobs: to prevent runs and get outs," the MLB says on its website.
