Framber Valdez: Everything you need to know

Valdez (3-4) picked up the win in Friday's 7-3 victory over the Mariners, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five. The southpaw wasn't particularly efficient, needing 102 pitches (61 strikes) to record 15 outs, but Valdez didn't give up any extra-base hits and shut the door on Seattle after the visitors scratched out a first-inning run. It was Valdez's first win since April 19, and over eight starts since that date he's managed a 4.85 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB in 42.2 innings. He'll look to build on Friday's performance in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Twins.

Valdez (2-4) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings as the Tigers fell 7-1 to the White Sox. He struck out four. The southpaw got tagged for two runs in the first inning and two runs in the seventh, getting lifted after 89 pitches (59 strikes) having received little support from his offense. Valdez has allowed at least four runs in three of his last five outings, stumbling to a 5.93 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 22:11 K:BB in 27.1 innings over that stretch. He'll look for his first win since April 19 in his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Mariners.

Valdez allowed one run on two hits across six innings of work and did not factor into the decision in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Orioles. He walked two and struck out five. Valdez allowed a solo home run to Gunnar Henderson in the sixth inning but was otherwise unblemished Sunday. He was at 92 pitches after six innings and maybe could have come back for the seventh, but Detroit turned to its bullpen, which ultimately blew a lead and cost Valdez his third win of the season. It was still an encouraging effort for the lefty, who had allowed 16 runs (13 earned) in 14.2 innings across his last three appearances. This is more what the Tigers expected when they inked Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract in the offseason, but he's been mostly pedestrian with a 4.28 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 50 strikeouts across 61 innings this year. He'll look to build on this performance in his next outing, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday against the White Sox on the road.