Francis Named AL Pitcher of Month on Strength of 1.05 ERA

Seattle’s Logan Gilbert received the National League honor.

Francis has led the Astros to a 16-14 start.

Houston Astros' Framber Valdez has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April, while the Seattle Mariners' Logan Gilbert has earned the same honor in the National League, MLB announced Monday.

In five starts last month, Valdez posted a 1.05 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. He allowed just 20 hits and five walks while going 4-1 with one no-hitter.

Valdez's no-hitter came against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 29, making him the first Astros pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Mike Scott in 1989.

Gilbert, meanwhile, went 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings over five starts in April.

The 24-year-old right-hander allowed just 15 hits and three walks while holding opponents to a .188 batting average.

Both Valdez and Gilbert have been key contributors to their teams' strong starts to the season.

The Astros are 16-14 and in first place in the AL West, while the Mariners are 17-13 and in first place in the AL West.