The Cubs walked off the Reds for the second straight game on Tuesday. Chicago has won seven in a row, and the streak is even longer at home. The Cubs haven’t lost at Wrigley Field since April 11 against the Pirates.
1. Benches clear in Detroit
Tigers lefty Framber Valdez gave up back-to-back home runs to open the fourth inning against the Red Sox on Tuesday. His next pitch hit Trevor Story right between the numbers. Both sides streamed out of the dugout, though the incident didn’t escalate much beyond that. Valdez claimed innocence afterward, but few were convinced. “It’s pretty indisputable,” Story told reporters, including Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. “We play a really good brand of baseball here,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “That didn’t feel like it.” (h/t Chris McCosky of the Detroit News) No word yet on a suspension for Valdez, but it’s likely coming.
2. Pagan leaves with leg injury
Reds right-hander Emilio Pagan entered in the bottom of the ninth inning of a tie game against the Cubs last night. He threw one pitch and immediately came up limping. The closer went to the ground, reaching for his hamstring. Pagan had to be carted off the field. He’s headed to the injured list, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Right-hander Pierce Johnson will come off the bereavement list to take Pagan’s spot. Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft are the leading candidates to assume the closer role. Santillan picked up a career-high seven saves in 2025.
3. Paddack designated for assignment
The Marlins DFAed veteran righty Chris Paddack on Tuesday. He was hammered for seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings over the weekend, pushing his ERA above 7.00. Paddack joined the club on a one-year, $4MM deal in February. He lasted just seven starts. Miami has a pair of big-name pitching prospects on the verge of reaching the majors in Robby Snelling and Thomas White. One of their Triple-A teammates might get the call first, though. Lefty Braxton Garrett is working his way back from elbow surgery. He’s posted a 2.30 ERA over six starts with Jacksonville. Garrett put together a solid 2023 campaign with the Marlins, but went down with the elbow issue after seven starts in 2024. Garrett’s previous MLB experience might give him the upper hand when it comes to replacing Paddack in the rotation.
Photo courtesy of Lon Horwedel, Imagn Images
Wow! Framber cant control his anger. $115M in Free Agency, what was Detroit thinking.
I didn’t see it mentioned yesterday but it appears Joe Ryan is fine to go after his injury scare in the game a few days ago sounded like he will make his next start just fine.
Valdez hits everyone. Next thing you know he’ll hit the umpire, home plate, runner, and the fans.
Anyone who saw it live knows it was intentional. He has to be suspended. In my view, 12 games after an appeal is finished. This means two starts.
The Lords of Baseball will quickly say “Appeal Denied” and add 5 more days to his ban.
Since the original story didn’t mention it, Valdez was ejected (and the umpires don’t have to issue any warning in that situation).
Astros71:
. . . and he’ll do it with one pitch!
Framber Valdez has thrown exactly 1 four-seam fastball this year according to Statcast. That was the pitch that hit Trevor Story.
1 of the 5 four-seam fastballs he threw in 2025 hit Ceddanne Rafaela after the Red Sox scored 6 runs against him.
3 of the 6 four-seam fastballs he threw in 2023 hit batters in games where he was getting shelled and each of those 3 pitches was against a division rival, hitting Marcus Semien and Nathanie Lowe (Rangers) and Jose Caballero (Mariners).
This is a pattern of behavior with him. The only season in the last 4 years where he didn’t hit a batter with a four-seamer was 2024, which happened to be his best season in the last 4 years.
One of the other 4 4-seam fastballs he threw hit his catcher in the chest after a home run…
Yeah that’s a pretty compelling argument that this was intentional. Will be interesting to see how many games he’s suspended.
Valdez is a menace, wowza man.
Valdez is a jobber.
Trevor Story has 1,099 hits in 1,099 games. Baseball is magic.
Devenski got 3 games (reduced to 2 on appeal) for not hitting Stewart in a blowout win. Valdez hits Story after back to back HRs in a blowout win out loss. Will be very interesting to see how many games he’s suspended.
Based on previous incidents as well, probably 5
Plunking somebody after you get taken deep is a top-tier whiny baby response.
You all act as if he’s the only MLB pitcher whoever threw at a batter after getting shelled. Cmon. It’s baseball. Let’s not act all surprised. Pitchers throwing at hitters for over 100 years.