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41 articles
DET •
5 days ago
The 32-year-old southpaw also issued five free passes on the evening while striking out four. He cruised through the first four innings unscathed and went in to the fifth with a comfortable 5-0 lead. After allowing a two-run homer to Matt McLain and a single to Elly De La Cruz though, Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch had seen enough and went to his bullpen with Valdez two outs shy of qualifying for a victory. He got eight swings and misses on 89 pitches on the night, posting a solid CSW of 28 percent. He’ll carry a 3.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 24/14 K/BB ratio (34 1/3 innings) into a tough matchup against the Braves in Atlanta on Thursday.
DET •
10 days ago
Valdez’s strikeout rate has been way down — he’d fanned 12.5 percent of the batters he faced coming into the day — so it was nice to see him miss some bats today. He had 11 whiffs on the 29 curves and changeups he threw and then 22 called strikes on his sinker to finish up with a 39 percent CSW on the day. Valdez is 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA, and he’s set to get the Reds next.
DET •
15 days ago
This was quite the throwback game, as both Valdez and Cole Ragans, who went six scoreless, had successful outings while striking out just one batter apiece. The Tigers ended up winning 2-1, but since they didn’t score until the bottom of the eighth, the victory went to Will Vest. Vest actually struck out the side in his inning, giving him as many strikeouts as the game’s other five pitchers combined. Valdez should make his next start Sunday versus the Red Sox.
DET •
21 days ago
The first inning included four hits, a HBP, a walk and little defensive help. Still, Valdez ended up pitching into a sixth, when he gave up a soft double and a softer single to open the frame, at which point he was replaced by Enmanuel De Jesus. In all, he gave up 10 hits but only seven hard-hit balls. It’s the third time in his career he’s surrendered eight runs; he previously did so against the Angels in 2020 and ’24. Expect a rebound against the Royals next week.
DET •
26 days ago
He scattered three hits and walked two while striking out five, and his curveball generated eight called strikes and whiffs in 29 pitches. St. Louis’ lineup against left-handed pitching isn’t exactly the most threatening thing we’ve ever seen, with Ramon Urias batting cleanup. But Valdez is off to a great start now with an 0.75 ERA in his first two turns through and he should remain an easy start going forward.
DET •
about 1 month ago
The 32-year-old southpaw struck out five batters on the evening while allowing just one base on balls. Three of the seven hits against him were infield singles — including a pair in the fourth inning that the Padres used to manufacture their first run. Valdez generated 11 swings and misses on 83 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of 31 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling when he does battle against the Cardinals in the Tigers’ home opener on Friday.
DET •
about 1 month ago
The Yankees plated a run on Austin Wells’ squeeze bunt in the fourth and then never scored again. Valdez’s velocity is down 1.5-2 mph from last year, but he’ll probably get most of that back. He’s still getting his usual number of grounders, and he ends the spring with a nice 16/2 K/BB in 18 1/3 innings.
DET •
about 1 month ago
Tarik Skubal will pitch on opening day against the Padres in San Diego. He’ll be followed by Valdez and Jack Flaherty. Justin Verlander will then open their series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona on March 30 and he’ll be followed by Casey Mize. Despite the injuries to Reese Olson and Troy Melton, this is perhaps the strongest starting rotation that we have seen the Tigers field in the past decade which has to make them the favorites in the American League Central.
Source: Cody Stavenhagen
DET •
about 2 months ago
The 32-year-old southpaw struck out three batters on the afternoon and did not allow a walk. Valdez generated nine swings and misses on 63 pitches in the contest, six of those on his sinker, while posting a CSW of 29 percent. He has looked exceptional in his first spring with the Tigers, registering a 0.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 12/0 K/BB ratio over 12 innings through his first three spring starts.
DET •
about 2 months ago
The left-hander posted a 23 percent whiff rate and 30 percent CSW while throwing 74 percent strikes. His curveball was in the zone often and also missing bats, and that’s a key for Framber since his success is so heavily tied to that one pitch. As long as his curve is on, he should continue to provide fantasy success.
DET •
about 2 months ago
The only sure major leaguer Valdez faced in this one was Jonah Heim, so it wasn’t a great test. Still, he showed his velocity was already up to par in spite of his rather late signing, and he threw 30 of his 43 pitches for strikes. That’s a fine first outing.
DET •
3 months ago
Valdez, who can opt out after 2027, gets a deferred $20 million signing bonus and salaries of $17.5 million this year, $37.5 million next year and $35 million in 2028. The mutual option is worth $40 million and includes a $5 million buyout. The contract also includes bonuses for finishing first ($2 million), second ($1 million) or third ($500,000) in the Cy Young balloting, winning World Series MVP ($2 million) and ALCS MVP ($1 million), any of which would be applied to the following year’s salary.
HOU •
7 months ago
The 31-year-old southpaw scattered seven hits on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. The lone tally against him came on a solo shot off the bat of rookie sensation Nick Kurtz in the sixth inning. Valdez generated 17 swings and misses on 92 pitches on the afternoon — 13 on his curveball — while posting an elite CSW of 36 percent. He likely concludes his regular season with a 13-11 record, 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 187/68 K/BB ratio over 192 innings in his 31 starts.
HOU •
7 months ago
He gave up the seven hardest-hit balls of the game, ranging from 105.6 to 110.9 mph, and also walked four. Valdez was 11-4 with a 2.62 ERA through four months this season. Now, having given up 41 runs — 38 earned — in 51 innings since the beginning of August, he’s 12-11 with a 3.75 ERA. It’s maybe the biggest reason the Astros might miss out on the playoffs. Valdez figures to face the A’s on Thursday.
HOU •
8 months ago
Valdez has been so erratic in recent weeks that it’s hard to believe it’s not October. Today, he gave up a homer to Matt Olson in the first. The run on the second came when Mauricio Dubón botched a potential double-play ball after a soft single and a walk. After that, things were quiet until the fifth, when Valdez opened the inning by walking three in a row and giving up two singles. Fortunately for Valdez, Enyel De Los Santos stranded both runners he inherited by striking out Marcell Ozuna, Sandy León and Nacho Alvarez Jr. The loss leaves Valdez 12-10 with a 3.59 ERA. He’s 1-6 with a 6.27 ERA since the beginning of August. The plan is for him to face the Mariners next weekend.
HOU •
8 months ago
Jake Burger’s homer was the big blow. Valdez struck out the first two batters in the sixth, but he then allowed his third, fourth and fifth hits of the game, with the last being a 364-foot round-tripper. Since the first run of the game was unearned, this goes down as Valdez’s 19th quality start in 28 tries. He’ll head to Atlanta with a 12-9 record and a 3.42 ERA.
HOU •
8 months ago
Valdez gave up a two-run homer to Jazz Chisholm in the second inning. After loading the bases with two outs in the fifth, Trent Grisham took Valdez deep for a grand slam, making it a 6-0 game. Valdez would finish out the fifth and was done for the day at 96 pitches. He collected eight strikeouts. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and a 166/57 K/BB ratio across 169 1/3 innings into a start against the Blue Jays in Toronto next Tuesday.
HOU •
8 months ago
Valdez allowed only three hits, and he compensated for two walks with five strikeouts. It’s a nice bounceback from his struggles last week against the Tigers (five innings, seven runs), and while some of that can be attributed to the Rockies being much worse than the Tigers, it’s not always that simple. Valdez now has a 3.18 ERA in 2025 with a 12-7 record. Not too shabby. He faces off against the Yankees on Tuesday.
HOU •
8 months ago
Valdez barely escaped a first inning that included three hits, three walks and two run-scoring wild pitches, but he bounced back nicely from the six-run frame and kept the Astros from burning out their pen ahead of a four-game series against the Orioles that starts tomorrow. It’s odd just how many awful innings Valdez has had in recent starts, but they don’t really seem to carry over once he finally gets that third out. He’s now 0-3 with a 7.33 ERA in four starts this month, but he has the perfect opportunity to rebound next week at home against the Rockies.
HOU •
9 months ago
Valdez just didn’t have it here. Both his curveball and changeup faded on him as he struggled to get on top of them and in turn, put hitters away. Instead he had to go back to his sinker, which he struggled to command as well, and wound up allowing 11 hard-hit balls in total. He was still able to work into the seventh inning and maintain a relatively clean line though. With that, he’s heading to Detroit for a matchup with the Tigers next time out.
HOU •
9 months ago
Valdez started the game off with two singles and two walks, producing a run before the first out was recorded. He went on to strand two of the remaining three runners, and he got through the next three innings unscathed before giving up two more runs in the fifth. Really, things could have been worse today, considering he allowed eight hits, walked four and struck out just one. This makes two straight shaky outings from a pitcher who was about as good as anyone in the league from May through July. Hopefully, it’s not a sign of things to come. He’ll face the Orioles next week.
HOU •
9 months ago
Framber struck out three and walked one while posting an 18 percent whiff rate and 26 percent CSW. He wasn’t hit hard by any means, but the Red Sox are one of the best lineups in baseball against left-handed pitching, and they were able to make consistent contact. Valdez will hope for better results next weekend against a Yankees lineup that could have Aaron Judge back.
HOU •
9 months ago
Valdez kept his personal 10-game winning streak intact, but the Astros lost one of his starts for the first time since May 2. That wasn’t Valdez’s fault, of course. He matched his season high with 12 strikeouts, and he allowed one run or fewer for the 11th time in his 21 starts. He’ll next start in Boston on Sunday.
HOU •
9 months ago
Valdez tossed four scoreless innings before a double, base hit, and a groundout put the Diamondbacks on the board with a run in the fifth. He settled in for two more scoreless frames, scattering seven total hits while striking out four batters. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 2.67 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 129/42 K/BB ratio across 128 innings into a start against the Athletics in Houston on Sunday.
HOU •
10 months ago
Valdez looked like he was going to pick up a win in his final start before the All-Star break, but Josh Hader blew a save to prevent that from happening. It was still an outstanding effort from the 31-year-old; one that lowered his ERA to 2.75 over 121 innings of work. Valdez was snubbed from the All-Star game, but he’ll be back on the mound next weekend against the Mariners.
HOU •
10 months ago
Valdez gave up a solo homer in the first, another run in the second and then a two-run homer in the fourth, but he held the line from there and moved into a tie for the major league lead with 10 wins this season. That’s quite an accomplishment, given that he was 1-4 through seven starts. He’s 9-0 in his last 11 outings. Valdez will finish off the first half Friday against the Rangers.
HOU •
10 months ago
Valdez was outstanding against the Cubs on Sunday, holding them scoreless over six frames. He started the seventh giving up a double and a base hit before he was relieved by Bryan Abreu, who left both runners stranded. Valdez scattered five hits and two walks, striking out six. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a 108/39 K/BB ratio across 109 innings into a start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
HOU •
10 months ago
Valdez walked four batters in the ballgame while striking out three. He and Phillies’ left-hander Ranger Suárez traded zeroes through each of the first seven frames, which is why the 31-year-old southpaw came up empty-handed despite his brilliant effort. He got just three whiffs on 92 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 24 percent. Through 16 starts on the season, Valdez has compiled a terrific 2.88 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 102/37 K/BB ratio across 103 innings. He’ll do battle against the Cubs his next time out at home on Sunday.
HOU •
10 months ago
Valdez, 31, dealt his fair share of traffic but was able to keep that traffic from crossing the plate. He walked five in the contest, and he allowed five hits while striking out three in a start that could have gone so much worse. He’s now the proud owner of a 3.09 ERA in 2025 with a K/BB ratio of 99/33 across 96 innings. Valdez will look to be a a little more efficient with similar results against the Phillies on Tuesday.
HOU •
11 months ago
Valdez surrendered two runs on seven hits and a walk in the ballgame. Piling up strikeouts led to an increased pitch count though, which is why he was pulled after just five frames at 95 pitches. Edgar Quero did all of the damage against him with a pair of RBI singles after Miguel Vargas extra-base hits in the third and fifth innings. The 31-year-old left-hander got 20 whiffs on the night — 12 of them on his curveball — while posting an elite CSW of 36 percent. He’ll see if he can eclipse double-digit strikeouts in three straight starts when he takes on the Athletics in West Sacramento on Wednesday.