Spring training roundup: Framber Valdez makes impressive debut for Tigers

Framber Valdez, this season's prized free agent pitching acquisition, made an impressive spring debut for the Detroit Tigers in a 5-2 loss to the visiting Atlanta Braves in Lakeland, Fla.

Valdez pitched three scoreless innings, fanning three and allowing just a pair of hits. He threw 30 of 43 pitches for strikes and struck out three in the second inning. Valdez signed a three-year, $115 million contract with Detroit last month after spending eight seasons in Houston and is lined up to start the Tigers' home opener April 3.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to extend Atlanta's lead to 3-0. Braves starter Bryce Elder allowed no runs on three hits with one strikeout over three innings.

Brett Callahan broke up a shutout with a home run in the seventh inning. Tomas Nido added a home run in the ninth for the Tigers.

Pirates 4, Rays 1

Yordany De Los Santos and Javier Rivas hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning as host Pittsburgh continued its hot spring with a victory over Tampa Bay in Bradenton, Fla.

Pittsburgh owns the best record of any team in the Grapefruit or Cactus Leagues, improving to 9-2. Pirates starter Mike Clevinger, who won 38 games for Cleveland from 2017-19 but has struggled with injuries since, fanned three batters and did not allow a run in three innings.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Alika Williams scored on an errant pickoff attempt by Rays starter Mason Englert. Tampa Bay tied the game an inning later on a Logan Davidson single to left field.

Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 6

Nathan Hickey clobbered a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning to snap a 5-5 tie and lead Boston over Toronto in Dunedin, Fla.

Mickey Gasper and Allan Castro also homered among their two hits apiece for the Red Sox, with Gasper driving in three runs as they pounced on Toronto pitching for 12 hits. Red Sox starter Johan Oviedo fanned four batters and allowed only two hits in three innings.

The Blue Jays scored five of their six runs in the fifth inning and rallied for to snare a 5-4 lead. Addison Barger keyed the outburst with a grand slam to right field.

Cardinals 3, Marlins 2

Colton Ledbetter's two-out single in the ninth inning plated pinch-runner Michael Antico as host St. Louis edged Tampa Bay in Jupiter, Fla.

Cardinals righty Andre Pallante allowed one run on three hits and fanned two in three innings. Yohel Pozo and Jeremy Rivas drove in runs for St. Louis in the seventh inning as the Cardinals rallied to knot the score at 2-2.

Kemp Alderman homered in the fourth inning and went 2-for-3 for the Marlins. Adam Mazur started and allowed only one baserunner (walk) in two innings.

Nationals 3, Astros 3

Houston poor spring continued as its dropped to 1-6-3 following a tie with Washington in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Houston starter Hunter Brown allowed a run and fanned three in 2 2/3 innings. The host Astros scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to even the score, the tying run coming across on a James Nelson single to left field.

Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz snapped a 1-1 tie with a solo homer to right field in the fourth inning. Brady House, who had two hits in three trips, added an RBI double to left field an inning later. Andrew Alvarez, who started five games for the Nats in September 2025, pitched three scoreless middle innings, walking three and fanning three.

--Field Level Media