NEW YORK -- Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez will return to the mound Wednesday night to face the Mets at Citi Field. The start will come after serving a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story in a 10-3 loss on May 5.
It was arguably Valdez’s worst game of the season, when he allowed 10 runs -- seven earned -- in three-plus innings. It was in the fourth inning when Valdez allowed consecutive homers to Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu.
Manager A.J. Hinch was planning to leave Valdez in the game because Detroit's bullpen had been overworked in recent days, but the Tigers ended up having to use the 'pen early once the next hitter, Story, was hit in the back by a 94.4 mph fastball.
Valdez spoke to the local media at Citi Field on Tuesday and maintained his innocence in regards to purposely trying to hit Story. He spent the suspension working on his four-seam fastball because he doesn’t want to lose control of the grip again. Valdez doesn’t plan to change his mechanics once he faces New York.
“I felt pretty bad once I got the news,” Valdez said through interpreter Carlos Guillen. “I had to stay away. I wasn’t allowed to be in the clubhouse during the game. I felt sad leaving my teammates in the dugout. I had to go back to the hotel and watch the game on TV.
“[The suspension] was not fair. At the end of the day, the suspension is over. I’m going back on the mound and try to help my team win.”
Hinch is hoping Valdez is ready to pitch against the Mets. The skipper is pleased that the left-hander has been able to get his work in during the suspension.
“He has been consistent behind the scenes,” Hinch said. “We got him [to] center focus on the Mets tomorrow, not making it a bigger deal than it already is and get on with the season. I hope he understands how important he is to us to get back on track.”
For the season, Valdez has eight starts and is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA.
Mize back soon: On the 15-day injured list because of a right adductor strain, right-hander Casey Mize is not expected to have a rehab assignment before making his next Major League start. He hurt his groin on April 28 against the Braves.
Mize will have a bullpen session on Wednesday at Citi Field. If everything goes well, he could be on a Major League mound by early next week. The Tigers need length from Mize after overcoming Valdez's suspension as they have dealt with injuries to Tarik Skubal (left elbow surgery) and Justin Verlander (left hip inflammation).
“I’m not feeling anything in my leg. I’m not in build-up mode. I didn’t lose much,” Mize said. “I feel like the workload capacity is still there.”