Landen Roupp vs. Framber Valdez
The San Francisco Giants will wrap up their series against the Houston Astros this afternoon before heading back to the bay for their home opener this weekend.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Landen Roupp, making his first start of the year. Roupp was primarily a reliever for the Giants in 2024, but ended up starting four games at the end of the season. He ended his 2024 season with a 3.58 ERA, 3.42 FIP with 47 strikeouts to 26 walks in 50.1 innings pitched over 23 games.
He’ll be facing off against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, making his second start of the year. He ended his 2024 season with a 2.91 ERA, 3.25 FIP with 169 strikeouts to 55 walks in 176.1 innings pitched over 28 starts. His first start this year was in the Astros’ 3-1 win over the New York Mets on Thursday, in which he allowed four hits and two walks, striking out four and allowing no runs in seven innings.
I do have to wonder if the Giants have not done Roupp any favors by skipping his first time through the rotation, as it looks like he will be lining up with the ace slot of other teams. But I’m sure with schedule differences, this will even out over time.
Roupp will have a bit of an advantage, as Christian Walker is the only Astro to have ever faced off against him (.333 average in three at-bats).
Meanwhile, the Giants have seen a little bit more of Valdez. Unfortunately that doesn’t say much. Matt Chapman leads the team in at-bats against him, but has a .188 average in 16 at-bats, but he does have three RBI.
Lineups
Giants
- Heliot Ramos – LF
- Willy Adames – SS
- Wilmer Flores – DH
- Matt Chapman – 3B
- Casey Schmitt – 1B
- Luis Matos – CF
- Sam Huff – C
- Mike Yastrzemski – RF
- Tyler Fitzgerald – 2B
RHP: Landen Roupp
Astros
- Jose Altuve – DH
- Isaac Paredes – 3B
- Yordan Alvarez – LF
- Christian Walker – 1B
- Yainer Diaz – C
- Jeremy Peña – SS
- Brendan Rodgers – 2B
- Zach Dezenzo – RF
- Chas McCormick – CF
LHP: Framber Valdez
Game #6
Who: San Francisco Giants (4-1) vs. Houston Astros (2-3)
Where: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
When: 1:10 p.m. PT
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
National broadcast: n/a
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM