Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Announce Their 2025 Opening Day Starter Against New York Mets

The Houston Astros have officially announced their 2025 Opening Day starter.

Brad Wakai

Jul 20, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) pats starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) on the back as Valdez is pulled from the game against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park
Jul 20, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) pats starting pitcher Framber Valdez (59) on the back as Valdez is pulled from the game against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park / John Froschauer-Imagn Images
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The Houston Astros are going to look different on Opening Day this season than the year prior.

That has become a staple for this franchise during their dynastic run, and while other clubs around Major League Baseball always have changes they undergo in the offseason, very rarely do they adopt the approach the Astros have taken where they are comfortable letting their stars leave.

Once again, that mentality was showcased this winter.

World Series winners Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly will be playing for different teams this year, presenting the Astros with major question marks when it comes to their viability in their division and the American League as a whole.

But they have an opportunity to make a statement early this year.

Houston welcomes in the New York Mets for a three-game slate to open the 2025 season starting on March 27, giving themselves a chance to prove they are still viable if they dominate the franchise that generated headlines this winter.

And to get things started, there is nobody more equipped to take the ball than their ace.

This should come as no surprise to anyone.

This will be the fourth consecutive Opening Day start for Framber Valdez with the Astros, surpassing Dallas Keuchel's mark of three from 2015-17 and Verlander's three from 2018-20.

Only Roy Oswalt has started more Opening Days in a row during the 2000s for Houston, toeing the rubber for Game 1 eight times in a row from 2003-2010.

Valdez is coming off another spectacular season.

He posted a 2.91 ERA and 136 ERA+ and across his 28 starts, finishing inside the top 10 of AL Cy Young voting for the third year in a row.

The lefty will look to get things started for the Astros and silence the doubters when they kick off their 2025 campaign.

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Brad Wakai
BRAD WAKAI

Brad Wakai graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Journalism. While an undergrad, he did work at the student radio station covering different Penn State athletic programs like football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and other sports. Brad currently covers the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He is also the Lead Contributor for Nittany Lions Wire of Gannett Media where he continues to cover Penn State athletics. Brad is the host of the sports podcast I Said What I Said, discussing topics across the NFL, College Football, the NBA and other sports. You can follow him on Twitter: @bwakai

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