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Valdez opened with five scoreless innings today to lower his ERA from 4.06 to 3.94, but he gave up three straight singles to start the sixth, with his one out coming because of a baserunning miscue. He was lifted down 1-0, with his ERA sitting at 3.98. However, the remaining runner came around to score off Tyler Kinley, pushing Valdez’s ERA back up to 4.03 to end the year. He also fell to 10-12. The collapse of his strikeout rate this year seems like a bad sign going forward, but at least he did turn back into a very strong groundball pitcher over the last four months. He might be through as a top-20 fantasy starter, but he should still offer some mixed-league value next year.

On the plus side for fantasy managers, he racked up eight strikeouts on the night while issuing four free passes. All of the damage done against him came in the opening inning on a two-out, three-run blast off the bat of Munetaka Murakami. He blanked the White Sox for the rest of his night, but the Tigers were never able to come back. Valdez got 16 swings and misses on 90 offerings — nine on his curveball — while posting an elite CSW of 38 percent. He’ll attempt to finish his season on a high note as he brings a 4.06 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 129/64 K/BB ratio (168 2/3 innings) into Wednesday’s battle against the Nationals.

The 32-year-old southpaw struck out two batters on the evening while allowing a pair of walks. The only run that scored against him came as Kevin McGonigle bobbled a ground ball with the bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning. Otherwise, Valdez was in complete command. He got 10 whiffs on 90 offerings on the night, posting a CSW of 21 percent. He’ll look to continue his recent dominance as he brings a 4.01 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 121/60 K/BB ratio (163 innings) into Thursday’s showdown against the White Sox in Chicago.

The 32-year-old left-hander struck out three batters in the contest while allowing only one base on balls. The only real threat against him came in the second inning as the Guardians started with two singles and a sacrifice bunt, putting two runners in scoring position with only one out. He was able to escape trouble there though and didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way. Valdez got just five swings and misses on 94 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 21 percent. He’ll attempt to replicate this fine outing as he carries a 4.17 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 119/58 K/BB ratio (157 2/3 innings) into a premium matchup against the Rockies on Friday.

This was shaping up as one of Valdez’s better outings until Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run homer with one out in the sixth. Valdez struck out five and averaged a season-high 95.1 mph with his sinker. He was averaging 93.8 mph coming into the game, and this marks his first time averaging 95 mph in 13 months. Maybe it’ll prove to be an aberration, but if not, a better September could be on the way for Valdez. He’ll face the Guardians next weekend.

Valdez gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out none. He fell to 8-9 with the loss. Valdez had recorded at least five strikeouts and picked up the win in three of his last four starts entering play Monday, but he didn’t come close to striking out anyone against the Rays. He threw 84 pitches while the Rays swung 41 times and didn’t whiff even once. Valdez has a 4.35 ERA after the most troubling performance of the worst season of his nine-year career. He’s lined up to face the Dodgers on Sunday.

Valdez gave up five hits, walked four and struck out five. He improved to 8-8 on the season. One unearned run scored in the fifth inning on a throwing error by second baseman Hao-Yu Lee. With one on and two outs in the sixth inning, Valdez issued back-to-back walks and a bases-clearing double to Nick Yorke, who also scored after Valdez was removed from the game. Valdez has a 4.35 ERA in what has mostly been a disappointing first season with the Tigers. He’s lined up to face the Royals on the road on Sunday.

It felt like Valdez was turning the corner, but he just can’t get right. In this start, the chaos began early. He walked Steven Kwan to start the game after being ahead of him 1-2. Then, Chase DeLauter singled down 0-2 and he hit José Ramírez with a two-strike curveball just after. Two runs wound up coming around to score in the first. It looked like Valdez had settled in a bit after that before Jo Adell took him deep for a two-run shot in the fifth. It’s just never easy for him. He’ll take a 4.26 ERA into his next scheduled start against the Pirates before facing the Royals afterwards in what should be a favorable two-start week.

The 32-year-old southpaw punched out five batters on the afternoon while issuing a pair of walks. The Mariners did have some traffic on the basepaths behind him, but Valdez got three double plays turned behind him that helped him to evade damage. He got just four swings and misses on 95 pitches on the day, registering a strong CSW of 33 percent. He’ll try to replicate this fine effort as he brings a 4.17 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 103/45 K/BB ratio (127 1/3 innings) into Thursday’s critical divisional matchup against the Guardians.

After forging an ugly 7.13 ERA in the month of July, Valdez got August off to a solid start. He did allow nine hits, but he kept the ball in the park — not an easy thing to do on the road against the A’s — and he was able to strike out six. Even with the strong start Valdez still is the owner of a 4.41 ERA, and it’s more than fair to say he’s been a massive disappointment for the Tigers after signing his long-term deal. There’s time to salvage some of the campaign, however, and he’ll get a chance to back this effort up against the Giants in San Francisco on Friday.

Valdez gave up four hits, walked three and struck out four. He got off to an inauspicious start in the first inning as he allowed a home run, a single and a hit by pitch to the first three hitters. Tigers fans and fantasy managers were surely having flashbacks to when Valdez allowed six runs in the first inning against the Cubs in his last start. He was able to rebound and make it through five innings, but Valdez hasn’t been at the top of his game for most of the season now. He has a 4.53 ERA. Valdez is lined up to face the Athletics on the road next weekend.

Valdez made his own trouble by giving up a triple, a walk and hitting a batter to start the game, but he could have escaped without too much trouble if Gleyber Torres had been anything more than a statue at second. As is, Carson Kelly singled in two runs on a ball to Torres’s left, Michael Busch singled in one on a ball to Torres’s right and Ian Happ singled in one on a popup to shallow right that neither Torres nor Michael Busch chased after. Valdez finally departed with his pitch count up to 42 pitches. He fell to 5-7 with a 4.57 ERA, but as disappointing as he’s been, we wouldn’t read too much into this one. He’ll face the Royals on Sunday.

Valdez missed a little under a week while dealing with things more important than baseball. He’s scheduled to start early next week against the Cubs.

The 32-year-old lefty will be away from the team for Sunday’s first half finale against the Phillies. Due to the timing of the All-Star break, Valdez isn’t expected to miss any starts while he is away. Andre Granillo, who was claimed off of waivers from the Nationals on Saturday, will take his place on the Tigers’ active roster.

The 32-year-old southpaw scattered just three hits on the evening and did not allow a base on balls. The lone tally against him came on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Henry Bolte in the fifth inning. Valdez piled up 18 swings and misses on 87 pitches on the evening — eight on his curveball — while posting a strong CSW of 33 percent. Valdez finishes up an inconsistent first half with a 5-6 record, 4.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and an 87/36 K/BB ratio over 107 2/3 innings in his first 19 starts for the Tigers.

Valdez also issued a pair of walks in the ballgame while recording only one strikeout. The Rangers got to him early in this one, as Elias Diaz crushed a solo homer as part of a three-run second inning. They then scratched out another pair of runs in the fourth. Valdez got just three swings and misses on 87 pitches on the night, posting a miserable CSW of only 17 percent. He’ll look to finish the first half on a higher note as he carries a 4.29 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 78/36 K/BB ratio (100 2/3 innings) into Thursday’s showdown against the Athletics.

Valdez coughed up a two-run homer to Cam Smith in the second inning and managed to do just enough to avoid being saddled with a loss against his former organization. He struck out two and didn’t hand out a free pass. He’s turned things around recently, posting a solid 3.21 ERA and 23/9 K/BB ratio across 28 innings over five starts since June 5. He’s likely to take the ball against the Rangers on Saturday in his next outing.

Valdez gave up four hits, walked two and struck out eight. He improved to 4-5 with the win as he had little trouble dispatching the Yankees’ lineup on Monday. Valdez has now allowed one run or less in four of his last six starts. He lowered his ERA to 3.91 on the season. Valdez is lined up to face the Astros at home this weekend for his next start.

Valdez stranded two runners in the first inning, then two more in the third after starting the frame with runners on the corners. The Astros finally got on the board with one unearned run in the fifth on a wild pitch. Valdez went one more scoreless inning, going six against his former team. He struck out six. The 32-year-old left-hander will take a 4.09 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 67/32 K/BB ratio across 83 2/3 innings into a start against the Yankees in Houston next Tuesday.

Valdez only struck out two while allowing two homers, raising his ERA to 4.40. The current mark is his highest since 2019, as the lefty has consistently been below 3.75. In 2026 he’s combining a slightly diminished ground-ball rate with a career-low strikeout rate. His next scheduled start is a rematch against his former team in Houston.