HOUSTON — Astros starters Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia look like naturals on the mound, even in the hairiest of situations.

A lot of work to make it seem that easy – at the ballpark and, as it turns out, at the barber shop.

Both pitchers completed their coiffures with an artificial boost this season, adding hair extensions as a means of expressing their individuality. They’re showing off those locks this postseason as Houston tries to reach the World Series for the fourth time in six years.

“At first a lot of people were talking about it and joking about this topic,” Valdez said in Spanish through a translator. “But at the end of the day I feel comfortable with my hair, and I feel good about my hair, so I’ll keep having my hair like this.”

Garcia, who opened the season with natural shoulder-grazing curls, this summer opted to add length and volume via braids adorned with beads at the end.

“When I have the braids, everybody knows me more, because it’s not a normal look,” the 25-year-old said.

For Valdez, who will start Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Thursday against Seattle, the transformation was more dramatic.

To stand out at his first All-Star Game in July, the 28-year-old left-hander added dreadlocks that fall past his shoulders to hair that was previously cropped closely on the sides with a few inches of growth on the top.

Standout `dos aren’t unheard of in baseball. Longtime MLB outfielder Oscar Gamble had a resplendent Afro in the 1970s, and more recently, pitcher Noah Syndergaard earned the moniker “Thor” for his flowing blonde locks.

Quirky facial hair has long been a staple in the sport, too – like Rollie Fingers’ handlebar mustache or Al Hrabosky’s Fu Manchu.

Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel long had Houston’s most notable hairstyle. His spiky top looks like the leaves of a pineapple, and he is known as “La Pina,” the Spanish word for the fruit.

Gurriel wasn’t initially a fan of Valdez’s extensions. He even cracked a few jokes.

“At first, I thought he looked very strange with all of the hair that he came in with,” Gurriel said in Spanish through a translator. “But now, I like his style and think it looks really good, and I really like when people change their style because I also like to change mine.”

ORIOLES: The Baltimore Orioles claimed outfielder Jake Cave off waivers from the Minnesota Twins and designated right-hander Jake Reed for assignment.

The 29-year-old Cave spent his first five major league seasons with the Twins. He played in 54 games last season, hitting .213 with five home runs and 20 RBI.

Baltimore claimed Reed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in September, and he went 1-0 with a 6.35 ERA in eight relief appearances for the Orioles down the stretch.

BRAVES: Reliever Tyler Matzek had Tommy John surgery and will be sidelined for 12 to 18 months.

Manager Brian Snitker said the 31-year-old left-hander went to Texas to be evaluated and learned that he had a torn elbow ligament. Atlanta left Matzek off the postseason roster because of elbow discomfort.

Matzek, who spent time in May and June on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, went 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA this season, striking out 36 in 43 2/3 innings. He was a vital part of the postseason bullpen last year when the Braves won the World Series, appearing in each of Atlanta’s first eight games. That tied the major league record held by Jesse Orosco, Wade Davis and Greg Holland for consecutive outings to open a postseason.

Matzek struck out 11 batters with runners in scoring position, tied with Atlanta’s John Rocker in 1999 for the most by a reliever in a single postseason.