Tigers take Framber Valdez off bereavement list

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.

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.

This was always the logical move with Jack Flaherty back in the mix. It’ll be Framber Valdez taking the ball on Thursday against the Rangers on regular rest. Montero probably deserves a spot in Detroit’s rotation based on his recent performance but it doesn’t sound like they have any plans to move to a six-man mix for now.