Valdez allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits across four innings of work in Monday's Grapefruit League contest against the Rays. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez has now made two spring training appearances with his new team, and he's allowed just the one earned run across seven innings of work with nine strikeouts. The lefty gives the Tigers a dynamic 1-2 punch with ace Tarik Skubal, and Valdez seems like he's ready for the regular season. Expect him to start Detroit's second game of the year against the Padres on March 27 and once again have a strong fantasy campaign if he can stay healthy, which Valdez has mostly been able to do the last four seasons.

Valdez allowed two hits across three scoreless innings of work in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first spring start for the Tigers since inking a three-year, $115 million contract in early February, Valdez looked sharp across his 43 pitches. He threw 30 of those pitches for strikes and managed to scatter two harmless singles. The 32-year-old southpaw figures to slot in to the No. 2 spot in Detroit's rotation behind ace Tarik Skubal, giving the Tigers two of the top left-handed starters in the American League. Valdez has made at least 28 regular-season starts in each of the last four years, and he's compiled a sparkling 3.21 ERA during that time, making him an attractive fantasy option in his first season in Detroit.

Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The addition of Valdez gives the Tigers one of the most formidable left-handed starter duos in baseball, as he will now join Tarik Skubal atop Detroit's rotation. Valdez, 32, turned in a 3.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 192 innings with the Astros last season. Although those ratios are some of the worst he's recorded over his eight-year career, he remains a dependable fantasy asset after making 31 starts and topping 185 strikeouts in three of the past four seasons.

Valdez declined the Astros' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's no surprise the left-hander rejected the qualifying offer since he's expected to land a significant multi-year deal in free agency. Valdez has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in baseball since he became a full-time member of Houston's starting rotation in 2020, though his 3.66 ERA and 1.24 WHIP last season were his worst marks since the 2019 and 2021 campaigns, respectively. Due to the qualifying offer, the Astros will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team.

The Astros extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to Valdez on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez is expected to decline the offer and pursue a significantly larger deal as a free agent this offseason. Thursday's move ensures the Astros will receive a compensatory draft pick if Valdez does not return to Houston. He logged a 3.66 ERA and a 187:68 K:BB across 192 innings in 2025, and the soon-to-be 32-year-old has now thrown at least 175 innings in four consecutive campaigns.

Valdez (13-11) earned the win against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters across seven innings.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez dominated the A's hitters right out of the gate, striking out five of the first six batters he faced, He generated 17 whiffs on 92 pitches (65 strikes) and reached double-digit strikeouts for the fifth time this season. It was a welcome return to form for Valdez, who yielded five earned runs while failing to complete five innings in each of his last two starts. He'll end the regular season with a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 187:68 K:BB across 192 innings.

Valdez (12-11) took the loss in the Saturday's contest against the Mariners, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The Houston southpaw issued four free passes for the second consecutive outing, as he's now yielded four or more walks eight times this season out of 30 total starts. The Seattle lineup kept peppering Valdez with baserunners and runs, with the fourth being the only inning he didn't allow a score. The 31-year-old lefty has labored since the All-Star break, producing an uncharacteristic 5.63 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 64 frames. Valdez is currently scheduled to make his final start of the season on the road against the Athletics next week.

Valdez (12-10) took the loss Sunday against Atlanta, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez's rough stretch continued Sunday -- the southpaw is now 1-6 with a 6.41 ERA in his last eight outings. Overall, Valdez's ERA sits at 3.59 through 29 starts (180.1 innings) this season with a 1.22 WHIP and 173:62 K:BB. Valdez will look to right the ship his next time out, currently scheduled for next week at home against Seattle.

Valdez (12-9) took the loss Sunday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.

EDGE Analysis

Valdez seemed well on his way to a quality start before encountering trouble in the sixth inning. The left-hander struck out a pair of batters to open up the frame before yielding a single, an RBI double and a two-run home run to the next three hitters he faced, respectively. Valdez has struggled since the start of August, owning a 1-5 record, a 5.95 ERA and a 30:14 K:BB across 42.1 innings. He's on track to face Atlanta next weekend.

Valdez will start Sunday's series finale against Texas, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Luis Garcia had previously been slated to start for Houston on Sunday, but the team decided to go with Valdez instead. Per McTaggart, Garcia isn't dealing with any sort of injury -- the Astros simply decided to move up Valdez's turn in the rotation. It remains to be seen if Garcia will take the mound Tuesday in Toronto for what had been scheduled to be Valdez's next start.