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Houston Astros' Framber Valdez, LA Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Win MLB Players of the Week

Valdez picked up some hardware after tossing a no-hitter, while Freeman earned some recognition after another explosive week for Los Angeles.
Sam Connon|
Houston Astros' Framber Valdez, LA Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Win MLB Players of the Week
Houston Astros' Framber Valdez, LA Dodgers' Freddie Freeman Win MLB Players of the Week

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Los Angeles DodgersHouston Astros

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman have won American League and National League Players of the Week, respectively, MLB announced Monday afternoon.

Valdez took the mound once last week, tossing a no-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 1. It was the second solo no-hitter in MLB this season, with Valdez joining New York Yankees starter Domingo German.

It only took Valdez 93 pitches to retire 27 consecutive Guardians and strike out seven, as a double play helped him erase the only walk he allowed all night. It marked the fewest number of pitches in a solo no-hit effort since 1999.

Valdez, who became the first lefty in Astros history to throw a no-hitter, is now 9-7 with a 3.07 ERA, a 1.074 WHIP and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings on the season.

Freeman, on the other hand, went 13-for-26 at the plate last week, also adding two home runs, five doubles, seven RBI, two stolen bases and two hit-by-pitches. The former MVP posted a .500 batting average and 1.459 OPS as his team strung together a 5-1 stretch.

After going 4-for-5 in the series opener against the Oakland Athletics on Aug. 1, Freeman went 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 in the ensuing two games. He also jacked a three-run home run to help the Dodgers defeat the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Freeman is batting .339 with 23 home runs, 80 RBI, 16 stolen bases a 1.011 OPS this season. The first baseman leads the NL in plate appearances, doubles, OPS+ and total bases.

Valdez is set to make his next start Monday against the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch from Camden Yards is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

As for Freeman and the Dodgers, they close out their road series against the Padres on Monday.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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