The Detroit Tigers are reeling after a brutal weekend, getting swept by the division-leading Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. That 7-5 loss on Sunday afternoon was just the latest punch, with the Pale Hose finding ways to outscore them all series long and shutting down their offense when it counted most. Now, at a 60-64 record, Detroit hits the road for PNC Park, staring down their designated interleague rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who sit at 61-55. This three-game set kicks off Monday evening with a pitching matchup that tells a story of recent struggles and potential bounce-backs for both sides.
Valdez Needs to Get Back on Track Fast
For Detroit, left-hander Framber Valdez is tasked with stopping the bleeding in the opener. The 32-year-old is looking to get back on track after a genuinely subpar showing his last time out against the Cleveland Guardians. Before that Cleveland start, Valdez was on a roll, tossing two straight seven-inning quality starts. But instead of keeping that momentum, he regressed hard. Valdez took his eighth loss in a 6-4 final, giving up four runs on six hits, including a home run, and walking five over just 5 2/3 innings. He even hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. That kind of outing just can’t happen if the Tigers want to turn this thing around. He’s sitting at a 7-8 record with a 4.26 ERA on the season, and the team needs the guy who was throwing those quality starts to show up Monday night, not the one who struggled so much.
Mlodzinski’s Nightmare Run Is No Joke
Across the diamond, the Pirates are sending right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski to the mound for his 12th start of the season. The 27-year-old has been bouncing between starter and reliever roles, and let me tell you, his recent form as a starter is downright alarming. Mlodzinski has struggled immensely in his last two starts, posting a mind-boggling 15.19 ERA and 7.02 FIP over just 5 1/3 innings of work. He’s given up 12 hits, including a homer, walked four, and struck out only two in those two outings, leading to a pair of losses. Those numbers are a far cry from his early-season performance where, over his first 11 appearances including nine starts, he had a much more respectable 3.76 ERA and 3.32 FIP across 55 frames. He allowed 58 hits, three home runs, and 20 walks while striking out 46. The numbers screamed “good starter” back then, but his current form is a complete reversal.
This is a series both teams desperately need to win to build some momentum. Last season, the Pirates swept the Tigers at PNC Park, so Detroit’s looking to buck that trend immediately. Valdez, with his 4.18 FIP, goes up against Mlodzinski, who holds a 3.68 FIP for the season despite his recent woes. It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start time at PNC Park, and this game on ESPN is going to tell us a lot about which team can find its footing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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