Valdez risking severe punishment after wild decision vs. Red Sox

Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez. Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Framber Valdez risking severe punishment after wild decision vs. Red Sox

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated May 6, 2026 12:18 PM ET

To say that Framber Valdez had a rough outing vs. the Boston Red Sox wouldn't tell half of the story.

The Detroit Tigers hurler gave up 10 earned runs before getting himself in some deep water. Valdez gave back-to-back homers in the fourth inning, and his frustration led him to hit Trevor Story on the back with a pitch.

It seemed quite intentional, and he was ejected after a bench-clearing brawl. Now, ESPN insider Buster Olney believes he's facing some time on the shelf.

Tigers' Framber Valdez is likely facing a seven-game suspension

"Framber Valdez's choice last night sets him up for a suspension -- the guess here is he'll get 7 games -- at a time when the Tigers are missing these pitchers due to injury: Skubal, Verlander, Mize, Melton, Jobe, Vest," Olney shared on X.

Framber Valdez's choice last night sets him up for a suspension -- the guess here is he'll get 7 games -- at a time when the Tigers are missing these pitchers due to injury:
Skubal, Verlander, Mize, Melton, Jobe, Vest.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 6, 2026

When asked about the pitch, Story didn't hesitate to call the Tigers hurler out and claim that it was obviously intentional.

"I was in there ready to hit and it showed up way behind me, off the numbers. I think we all know what’s what. It’s pretty indisputable," Story said postgame (h/t Bos Sports Gordo).

Notably, this isn't the first time Valdez has let his emotions get the best of him. That's why, despite clearly being one of the best free agents available, it took him a while to finally land a new home with A.J. Hinch's team.

The Tigers just lost ace Tarik Skubal for months, but they're pretty much in the race with the Cleveland Guardians for the AL Central pennant. Then again, with this unfortunate string of injuries and Valdez not making the best decisions, the Tigers might be in for a complicated stretch over the next couple of weeks.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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