Tigers News: Framber Valdez resurgence, Dillon Dingler history, Jack Flaherty rehab

Framber Valdez looked just as hopeless as the rest of the Tigers' roster throughout the month of May. He made it through April with a 3.35 ERA — not outstanding, but nothing to sniff at — and then kicked May off with an unmitigated disaster against the Red Sox. He gave up 10 runs (seven earned) in three innings and was suspended for one start after hitting Trevor Story with a pitch.

All told, he put a 5.93 ERA in five May starts, all of which resulted in losses (though, for the most part, the offense was almost just as much to blame as Valdez). It wasn't what the Tigers wanted to see from their $115 million man, the highest-paid lefty starter by AAV in history (for now).

But just like the rest of the Tigers' roster, Valdez has turned things around in June. He pitched six innings of one-run baseball against the Yankees on Tuesday and matched a season-high eight strikeouts. It brought his ERA on the season below 4.00 again and improved his ERA in the month of June to 2.45.

Tigers News: Dillon Dingler matching Miguel Cabrera

Dillon Dingler is a very, very good baseball player. Tigers fans could see signs of it last year, but the rest of the league is being forced to take notice this season. He leads the Tigers in home runs (18), RBI (55), and OPS (.871). He's so valuable to the Tigers' offense that AJ Hinch rarely gives him a day off and puts him in the lineup as DH when he's not catching.

His homers and RBI have him matching numbers no Tiger since Miguel Cabrera has put up.

If Dingler keeps this up, he should be in the AL MVP conversation. He doesn't have much of a chance at winning when Yordan Alvarez and Bobby Witt Jr. are doing what they've been doing, but he should get votes.

But maybe we're dreaming too big right now. Let's start with All-Star voting, where Dingler is, unforgivably, hundreds of thousands of votes behind the Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk (who has played in 12 games).

Tigers News: Jack Flaherty to make a rehab start in Double-A Erie

Jack Flaherty is making quick progress back to the Tigers after suffering a peroneal strain and going onto the IL on June 13. He's scheduled to pitch a rehab start in Double-A Erie on Tuesday.

The Tigers have gotten lucky with pitching returns — which might be good karma from losing so many arms in the first place. Tarik Skubal only needed one rehab start and Casey Mize has gotten back from both of his stints on the IL in good time.

There's far less of a rush for Flaherty when Troy Melton has been holding the fort well and Flaherty was still struggling before he got hurt, but maybe he'll be able to take this minor league stint as a reset.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow