Cesar Valdez Fantasy Stats

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cesar Valdez was designated for assignment Friday. The 36-year-old was a huge surprise at the beginning of the season, converting eight of his first 10 save opportunities with a 1.23 ERA while relying heavily on a changeup. However, he ended up losing the role and had a final stat line of a 5.76 ERA with eight of 12 save opportunities converted.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cesar Valdez (back) has been activated off the 10-day injured list on Sunday. He has been sidelined since late June due to a lower back strain. Valdez was the O's closer coming into the 2021 season, but quickly lost that spot. He carries a 5.74 ERA and 1.65 WHIP over 26 2/3 innings this season. Fantasy managers can avoid him for the moment. Isaac Mattson will be the odd man out here, but didn't get much of a chance in Baltimore.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cesar Valdez (back) could be activated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday. Although it also could be sometime after that, the veteran is nearing a return after spending time on the IL with a lower back strain. However, Valdez isn't worth much from a fantasy standpoint, primarily after his role was reduced during the season. With a 5.74 ERA as well, fantasy managers can drop the 36-year-old if he hasn't been already.

The Baltimore Orioles placed relief pitcher Cesar Valdez (back) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with a lower back strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Travis Lakins from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Valdez entered the season as one of the Orioles options in the ninth inning, but he's since been demoted from that role because of a string of poor performances. The 36-year-old right-hander does have eight saves on the season, but his last one came back on May 10 and he blew his last two save chances, which came on May 11 and May 24. Valdez is sporting a 5.74 ERA and 1.65 WHIP on the year with 29 strikeouts and seven walks in 26 2/3 relief innings. He's been a bit unlucky (2.87 FIP), but now that he's more of a middle reliever and he's on the injured list, he can be dropped in the majority of fantasy formats.

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cesar Valdez continued his string of disappointing outings in Thursday's 5-1 loss to the White Sox. Valdez entered the game to pitch the seventh inning down by one. He allowed a leadoff double, got a strikeout, walked a hitter, then allowed an RBI double and a two-RBI single before being removed from the game. His final stat line was three runs on three hits and a walk with a strikeout in just 1/3 IP. The veteran had started the season well as the O's closer but has not gotten the job done lately, allowing six runs over his last two appearances. The fear that Valdez's success could not last given his career numbers seems to be realized now, as he owns a 5.30 ERA on the season. It would not be surprising to see the O's turn to other options in high-leverage situations, which would cause a big drop in Valdez's fantasy value.

Baltimore Orioles closer Cesar Valdezhad a meltdown in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Twins. Valdez came into the game in the eighth inning up a run with runners on first and third and one out. He allowed a sacrifice fly to tie the game, then gave up a single, a two-RBI double and another RBI single before being removed from the game. Valdez's final line was one-third of an inning pitched with three runs scored on three hits. The veteran has now converted eight of 12 save opportunities this season with a 3.93 ERA and a 10.31 K/9. Valdez appeared to be a fantasy steal at the beginning of the season, but he plays on a team where he's unlikely to see all that many save opportunities, so he will need to convert a higher percentage of them to provide meaningful fantasy value as the season progresses.

Baltimore Orioles closer Cesar Valdez got in an inning of work in the eighth inning of Thursday's 10-1 blowout loss to the Rays. Valdez allowed no runs on two hits and a walk with a strikeout. Per BaltimoreBaseball.com's Rich Dubroff, manager Brandon Hyde did not want to pitch Valdez today but had no other choice. "Everything piles up," Hyde said. "Don't want to use Valdez in that situation, but I had no other arms to throw.". The veteran has done well as the O's closer this season, converting eight of 11 save opportunities with a 2.65 ERA. He certainly holds fantasy value given his performance this season, but he may see limited save opportunities if his team continues to play this poorly.

Baltimore Orioles closer Cesar Valdez pitched the ninth inning in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Yankees. Valdez entered the game with a five-run lead and allowed one run on three hits and no walks with two strikeouts. It obviously was not a save situation, but Valdez had not pitched since May 11, so it was likely a chance for him to get some work in. Valdez has been a solid fantasy pitcher this season, converting eight of 11 saves with a 2.81 ERA and an 11.25 K/9 rate. He should remain in fantasy managers' lineups at all times as long as he continues to pitch well.

Baltimore Orioles closer Cesar Valdez blew the save and took the loss Tuesday against the New York Mets. Valdez entered the game with a sparkling 1.23 ERA and 0.96 WHIP to go along with 17 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings on the season. Unfortunately, this hot start came to an end in Flushing. Kevin Pillar missed a home run by inches to lead off the ninth inning before persevering and still earning himself a leadoff single. Pillar then took second on a Jonathan Villar single and after a James McCann strikeout, he scored on a Dominic Smith RBI single later. Patrick Mazeika then walked off the Mets for the second time in his young career, and without recording his first career hit, scoring Jonathan Villar from third on a fielder's choice. This is only a blip for Valdez, as he is still the closer for the foreseeable future.

Baltimore Orioles closer Cesar Valdez helped the O's earn the 4-1 win against the Red Sox Monday, earning his eighth save of the season. Valdez came on to pitch the ninth inning against the heart of the Red Sox lineup up by three. He made quick work of it, pitching a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts. Valdez continues to be a fantasy surprise this season, converting eight of 10 save opportunities with a 1.23 ERA and a 10.43 K/9 rate. The O's may not have the best record, but Valdez has proven to be a solid fantasy closer this season.