Detroit Tigers fans, take a deep breath—Framber Valdez's suspension is almost over. The left-handed ace is currently serving a five-game ban from Major League Baseball after intentionally throwing at Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story during his last start. But here's the good news: he's eligible to return as soon as Wednesday, May 11, when the Tigers face the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Even while sidelined, Valdez isn't taking it easy. The 32-year-old completed a scheduled bullpen session on Saturday, May 9, before the second game of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. "He's able to work out with us, even though he can't stay for games and be in the clubhouse during the game," manager A.J. Hinch explained, highlighting Valdez's commitment to staying sharp.
The suspension threw a wrench in the Tigers' plans—Valdez was originally slated to start Sunday's series finale against the Royals. Without him, Detroit will rely on a bullpen-only game, a test of depth for a team already navigating a busy stretch. "We're starting to develop it," Hinch said of the pitching strategy. "We have two games here that we're entirely focused on, and we've just got to see how we come out of this series. We're going to need to use a lot of pitching over the next couple of days."
Valdez, whom the Tigers signed in early February to a contract potentially worth $115 million over three seasons, has been a key piece of the rotation. Through eight starts, he owns a 4.57 ERA with 15 walks and 35 strikeouts across 43⅓ innings—solid numbers that Detroit hopes will only improve as the season progresses. While the team hasn't officially announced probable pitchers for the Mets series, the likely lineup shapes up as right-hander Jack Flaherty on Tuesday, Valdez on Wednesday, and right-hander Keider Montero on Thursday.
For Tigers fans, this suspension is a minor hiccup in what's shaping up to be an exciting season. Valdez's return couldn't come at a better time, as Detroit looks to build momentum against a tough Mets squad. Keep your eye on Wednesday's game—it might just be the start of a comeback story worth watching.