When the Tigers brought in Framber Valdez in February, they were banking on one thing above all else: innings. Detroit wanted stability in the rotation behind Tarik Skubal, and Valdez has delivered exactly that kind of workload even as the season around him went sideways.
On Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park, Valdez made what could be his last start of the 2026 season against the Washington Nationals. He didn’t finish deep into the game, lasting 5.1 innings, but just by taking the mound he put himself in a rare class. After his first pitch, he joined Kevin Gausman, Aaron Nola and Logan Gilbert as the only pitchers to reach 31 starts over the same span, according to the Detroit News’ Chris McCosky.
Valdez opened strong and retired the first nine Nationals he saw before the sixth inning got messy. By the time AJ Hinch went to the bullpen, the left-hander had allowed four hits, two earned runs, three walks and six strikeouts over 87 pitches. He faced 22 batters in all, and with Detroit already out of the postseason race, there was no reason to squeeze more out of him on a cool day in the Motor City.
The start fit the story of Valdez’s season. The 32-year-old has not always been a popular figure in clubhouses, but his ability to take the ball every fifth day has never really been in doubt.
The only year he fell short of 31 starts was 2024, when he still made 28 starts, went 15-7 and posted a 2.91 ERA. That year ended with a seventh-place finish in Cy Young voting, an award Skubal won.
Detroit’s rotation picture is still murky, and the front office has major decisions ahead as it tries to rebuild the staff. Skubal’s return remains more wishful thinking than certainty, and the looming lockout this winter could slow everything down even more. But if the Tigers are looking for a dependable starting point, Valdez has already shown them one thing they can trust: durability.
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AJ Hinch has left the door open for Carpenter to win back an everyday job when he is healthy in 2027, but nothing about that path looks guaranteed right now. The Tigers are treating him more like a platoon bat at the moment, and his ability to stick will depend on more than offense alone, with his defense, versatility and how he handles competition from other players all part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]