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    Framber Valdez pulled during six-run first inning

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    DET Starting Pitcher #59
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    Framber Valdez lasted just two-thirds of an inning and gave up six runs Tuesday against the Cubs.

    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.
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  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
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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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #54
    Montero had been scheduled to start against the Rays on Monday, but he didn’t recover well after his last start so the team wants to give him some extra time to rest and recover. The club will also push Framber Valdez back from Sunday to Monday, with the team going with a bullpen game in Sunday’s series finale against the Royals in Kansas City.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.
  • DET Starting Pitcher #59
    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.

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  • LAA Relief Pitcher #67
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    Angels re-signed LHP Sammy Peralta to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

    Peralta made 16 appearances at the MLB level between the Angels and Rockies in 2026, posting a miserable 6.65 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and a 23/9 K/BB ratio over 23 frames. It’ll take a strong showing in Cactus League action for him to crack the Halos’ Opening Day bullpen.
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    Angels and C Tyler Heineman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2375 million contract.

    The 35-year-old backstop will remain with the Angels in a backup role heading into the 2027 campaign. Heineman slashed just .175/.223/.220 with one homer and 10 RBI in 200 plate appearances between the Blue Jays and Angels in 2026.
  • TOR Right Fielder #25
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    Anthony Santander publicly apologized Friday for since-deleted Islamophobic social media posts.

    Santander shared anti-Muslim videos following the U.S. election last week before eventually taking them down. The Blue Jays released a statement Thursday condemning all forms of hate. Most assume the Jays would like to rid themselves of Santander at this point, though he still has $49 million left on the five-year deal he signed after hitting 44 homers for the Orioles in 2024. He’s since played in just 54 games in 2025 and none in 2026 because of shoulder issues. Even if the Jays are willing to eat the contract, it makes financial sense to wait until after the lockout ends, since any missed games next season would lead to a corresponding reduction of his $16.5 million salary.
  • FA Starting Pitcher #43
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    According to Kevin Barral of Fish on First, the Marlins have expressed interest in free agent southpaw Patrick Sandoval.

    The Marlins are in the market for arms that could fill out the backend of their rotation or provide quality depth. When right, Sandoval should be able to do that, be he had very inconsistent results in his first action back from Tommy John surgery — posting a 1-7 record, 5.12 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 73/32 K/BB ratio across 70 1/3 innings in his 15 appearances.
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    Bruce Levine of 670 The Score in Chicago reports that both the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira.

    Both teams met with agent Scott Boras during the general manager’s meetings to discuss the 26-year-old hurler. The Padres are also known to have expressed interest in his services. With the potential lockout looming, it doesn’t sound like Nippon Professional Baseball is going to change the posting rules at all, so any player that has been posted for MLB teams will need to sign before the lockout or return to their clubs in Japan. Expect the interest to really heat up here in the coming days.
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    Rangers re-signed INF Max Wagner to a minor league contract.

    Wagner got a $1.9 million bonus from the Orioles as the 42nd overall pick in the 2022 draft, but Baltimore gave up on him after he hit .218/.301/.339 in Double-A in 2025. The Rangers signed him in April, and he put up a much-improved .249/.337/.523 line with 21 homers in 85 games in Double-A at age 25 last season. If he can do that again in Triple-A next year, he might become a candidate for a major league bench gig.
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    Reds re-signed OF Shane Sasaki to a minor league contract.

    Sasaki, the Rays’ third-round pick in 2019, hit .241/.340/.371 in 53 games for Double-A Chattanooga last season before missing the final 3 1/2 months with an injury. He’ll aim to win a spot on the Triple-A roster when minor league spring training starts.
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    Reds re-signed LHP Ben Wereski to a minor league contract.

    Wereski, 28, had a 4.42 ERA in 12 starts between Double- and Triple-A after being plucked out of indy ball last season. He’s probably just Triple-A depth, but there’s the chance he’ll be needed to come up and make a start or two next season.
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    Reds re-signed RHP Trevor Kuncl to a minor league contract.

    Kuncl will compete to retain his spot in the Triple-A Louisville pen after posting a 5.40 ERA and a 42/29 K/BB in 37 1/3 innings for the Bats last season.
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    Nationals released RHP Kyle Nicolas.

    The 27-year-old Nicolas was designated for assignment a week ago. He’ll enter free agency with a career 4.96 ERA and a 103/66 K/BB in 105 1/3 innings as a major leaguer.