Jun 15, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) rounds the bases after he hit a home run against the Houston Astros in the third inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (30-42) vs. Houston Astros (33-41)
Time/Place: 8:10 p.m., Daikin Park SB Nation Site: The Crawfish Boxes Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (3-5, 4.40 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 0.84 ERA)
The Seattle Mariners reinstated their All-Star catcher from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, ahead of their homestand opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Shortstop J.P. Crawford was activated alongside him after a right-hand contusion.
Raleigh had been out since May 14 with a right oblique strain, the first IL stint of his career. He appeared to wince during a play against the Houston Astros that day, then landed on the IL. It came just a day after he snapped an 0-for-38 slide at the plate.
The break may have been a chance for Raleigh to reset.
Before going on the IL, Raleigh hit just .161 through 41 games, a stunning drop for a hitter coming off one of the best offensive seasons a catcher has ever had. He called the time away "productive" and showed it on a rehab assignment, hammering five home runs in his first four games at Triple-A Tacoma.
Last season Raleigh finished runner-up for the American League MVP behind New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. He hit 60 home runs, the most ever by a catcher and the most ever by a switch hitter. The Mariners are hoping to get that version of Raleigh back.
Seattle's offense has been a season-long problem. The Mariners ranked near the bottom of baseball in run production for much of the spring, with strikeouts piling up and the middle of the order going quiet. Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor spent the early weeks slumping in unison.
Even so, the Mariners have stayed afloat. They were 37-36 and sitting in first place in the AL West going into Tuesday night's game. Pitching has carried them, now they get their big bat back.
Randy Arozarena lands on the IL as Mariners injuries continue to add up
The good news came with a catch, however. The same day Raleigh and Crawford were activated, the Mariners lost their most productive hitter. Seattle placed Randy Arozarena on the IL with a left hamstring strain.
Arozarena hurt the hamstring Friday beating out a grounder in a win at Washington. He has not played since. The outfielder had started all 71 games to that point, one of just three Mariners to appear in every game. He leads the team in average, hits, runs, doubles and steals. He was hitting .291 with seven homers, 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases and was on track for his third All-Star nod. He had never been on the IL for a baseball injury in his career.
The timing stings for a lineup that already can't score. Seattle also played Tuesday without Josh Naylor, who is dealing with wrist and shin issues.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 07: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves runs in the seventh inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on June 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re only two innings into a soggy night at Truist Park and while things are currently going fine for the Braves on the scoreboard, there may be some issues brewing as far as injuries go yet again. Michael Harris II was removed from the game ahead of the top of the second inning.
Michael Harris II has been removed from the game. Eli White has entered the game in LF and Mauricio Dubón is now in CF
My only guess is that he tweaked something while crossing home plate to score the second run of the inning for Atlanta. We haven’t heard anything else and it would be pretty useless to speculate past that.
We’ll provide more updates as they come so stay tuned.
UPDATE [8:00 p.m. ET]: We now have an answer as to what’s ailing Money Mike and apparently his back is acting up on him again. The Braves are calling it “lower back tightness.”
OF Michael Harris II was removed from tonight’s game due to lower back tightness.
If that sounds familiar, that’s because this is the same thing that caused Harris some problems not too long ago earlier this month. It also probably didn’t help matters that they were playing in wet conditions which up the ante for potential injuries. That could be precautionary in order to make sure that Harris doesn’t have to deal with that much further during this one but we’ll see what happens later on as far as that’s concerned. Once again, here’s hoping that we won’t have to see another core member of the Braves take a trip to the IL.
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros look to even up their series with the Tigers tonight in the middle game of their three-game set in Houston…tonight’s pitching matchup is a dandy between RHP Hunter Brown, who’s makes his much-anticipated return from injury, opposite former Astro LHP Framber Valdez, who’s also making his own return to Daikin Park.
THE HUNT IS ON:RHP Hunter Brown is returning tonight from a right shoulder strain which cost him over two months, 67 team games, and approximately 12 starts…prior to the injury, Brown made two starts for the Astros in March, last pitching in the Majors on March 31 vs. BOS (1ER/6IP)…he made four minor league starts on his way back, posting a 1.88 ERA (3ER/14.1IP) with 21 strikeouts, a .157 opponent average and a 0.77 WHIP at the Double A (1g) and Triple A (3g) levels…a 2025 All-Star, Brown finished third in the AL in Cy Young voting last season after turning in the best year of his career with a 12-9 record and a 2.43 ERA (50ER/185.1IP).
WELCOME BACK FRAMBER!: The Astros will face off against 2022 World Series Champion LHP Framber Valdez tonight in what is his first start against his former club…Valdez spent his first eight Major League seasons (2018-25) as an Astro before departing the team via free agency this offseason…he went 81-52 with a 3.36 ERA in 188 regular season games as an Astro and ranks second in franchise history in wins by a left-handed pitcher.
PEANUTS NIGHT: Tonight is Peanuts Night at Daikin Park, which will be buzzing with Peanuts-themed activations, including playful photo opportunities and charming surprises…fans can also purchase a limited-edition Charlie Brown Astros Jersey Add-On for $49.50…fore more information and to purchase, visit Astros.com/Peanuts.
TONIGHT’S RADIO BROADCAST: The Astros English radio broadcast for the Tigers series will feature Robert Ford and Kevin Eschenfelder, who’s subbing for Steve Sparks.
PEN PALS: Since May 15, the Astros bullpen has a 2.73 ERA (32ER/105.2IP) with 99 strikeouts, a 1.04 WHIP and a .189 opponent average…among AL teams since May 15, the Astros bullpen ranks first in ERA, first in WHIP, and first in opponent batting average…the Astros are also 16-13 since May 15.
MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros have committed the fewest errors (29) in the AL and own the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL…1B Christian Walker has led the way, as he has not committed an error in 72 games and 522 total chances.
ASTROS ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have reinstated RHP Hunter Brown from the 60-day IL and C Yainer Diaz from the 10-day IL…in corresponding moves, the Astros optioned C Collin Price to Triple A Sugar Land after last night’s game and designated RHP Jayden Murray for assignment today.
SELECT COMPANY: Last night, DH Yordan Alvarez played in his 750th career game and went 2×4 to raise his career average to exactly .300…with 194 career homers, Alvarez ranks sixth in MLB history in homers through a players first 750 career games:
Player HR Batting Avg. Aaron Judge 226 .283 Ryan Howard 225 .279 Ralph Kiner 214 .283 Pete Alonso 206 .249 Harmon Killebrew 195 .259 Yordan Alvarez 194 .300
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, June 16, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network, SCHN2
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Amidst a flurry of injury updates and roster moves, the Seattle Mariners announced a major strategy shift for the next month. The club will employ the piggyback strategy once more, carrying through the All-Star Break in mid-July, but with a twist. Instead of limiting the piggyback to Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller, after apparent discussion and planning with the entire rotation, the club will be rotating the piggybacking through all six starters to afford each an opportunity to be stacked with another starter at some point. Reportedly, the decision (or at least the input from the rotation) was unanimously in favor of sharing the start-sharing load.
The move comes on the heels of a road trip that exposed the cracks in a six-man rotation scheme. As Ryan notes below, the numbers were not favorable for an M’s rotation which was essentially asked to execute quality starts in sequence without fail and with lesser bullpen support should things go awry.
Those factors aren’t in a vacuum, as Seattle faced the Mets at home before traveling to hot, windy climates at Detroit, Baltimore, and the hot-hitting Washington. But the prior batch of outings featured the White Sox, traveling to blustery Kansas City, the A’s in Sacramento, and then hosting a potent Diamondbacks offense. In short, a small sample in either direction.
What was evident during the 4-6 road trip Seattle took was how thin their bullpen was stretched night after night. With one fewer reliever than typical, Seattle got season-worst outings by runs allowed from Emerson Hancock and George Kirby, and mixed bags from the rest of the rotation save for Bryce Miller. Injuries to long-man Cooper Criswell, as well as leverage arms Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz meant trouble for the M’s, as well as daunting tasks like leaving José Ferrer in for nearly 50 pitches and shuffling several Triple-A relievers in and out of town. This left the M’s starters tasked with covering as many innings as possible, often at points where they might’ve otherwise been pulled for ineffectiveness earlier.
General Manager Justin Hollander was effusive in his praise of the rotation as individuals and a collective in terms of their selflessness and camaraderie for one another and the purpose of helping the team win.
“Never been around a group of starters that roots for each other like this group of starters roots for each other. So when you present a plan and tell them the sacrifice you’re asking them to make is for one day in the next 30, we’re gonna ask you to give up an inning for the whole group to be the best version, to help the bullpen, to help the team … it’s the type of culture you want to have when you go through a rebuild and come out of it. Those are the type of people you want to have – you want to draft them, trade for them, sign them to extensions.”
Hollander acknowledged the importance as well of having Cal Raleigh back to navigate the uncharted territory, while nonetheless praising Mitch Garver and Jhonny Pereda for their work in his absence. The ~30 day schedule built out is, per Hollander, the typical schedule the club builds out with the pitching coaches at all times, so they will reevaluate as things go, but the intent is to allow each pitcher the chance to expect and prepare for their own utilization in advance and “equity” with this uncommon situation.
Additionally, the club reiterated that they do not currently plan to bring up Kade Anderson or Ryan Sloan in the immediate or for a relief role. They are both expected to continue building up and stretching out as starters in the minors, but both remain in consideration as potential additions late in the season as needed and merited. The first piggyback of this sort will be its most familiar members, with Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller sharing a start on Friday, and three more at least planned until the end of the season’s first half.
Jun 3, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will continue their brief homestand against the San Diego Padres Tuesday night as Andre Pallante will answer the bell for the Cardinals. RHP Michael King is scheduled to start for the Padres. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm at Busch Stadium.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 15: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers reacts after hitting a two home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Globe Life Field on June 15, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jun 11, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Minnesota Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews (52) pitches in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
First Pitch: 7:05 PM CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN, LosTwins.com, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App
Zebby Matthews gets the start tonight for the Twins, and he’s hoping to not give up 7 earned runs as he’s done in 2 of his last 3 starts. If he can avoid the long ball I think he stands a pretty good chance, and he should be helped by the fact that the Rangers don’t hit many home runs (ranked 22nd in MLB).
The Rangers will counter with RHP Kumar Rocker, their 3rd overall draft pick from 2022. He features a slider, sinker, 4-seam, a cutter, and a change-up. Expect to see primarily sliders and sinkers from Rocker, and because of that, lots of ground balls.
Jun 11, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) delivers a pitch in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Starting for the Rockies is Ryan Feltner in what will be his ninth start for in 2026.
Worth noting, he will be facing the Cubs for the second-straight start after facing them last Thursday at Coors Field. In that game, Feltner suffered the loss in a 9-3 Rockies loss, allowing six runs on four hits across 4.1 IP. He surrendered four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth after retiring each of the first nine batter he faced to begin the game.
The righty has a 5.20 ERA in 36.1 IP. He’s struck out 26, walked six, and given up two home runs. Feltner has a 1.21 WHIP.
Taking the mound for the Cubs will be RHP Edward Cabrera.
Currently, he has an ERA of 4.86 in 63.0 IP. He’s struck out 58 while giving up 33 walks and 13 home runs with a 1.41 WHIP.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 3: Grant Holmes #66 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Truist Park on June 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr.Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are finally back home after a round trip that they likely would like to forget. Spencer Strider was injured and the Braves’ offense struggled mightily.
Since the start of June, only three teams in MLB have scored fewer runs than the Braves and only five teams have had a worse rotation ERA. That clearly is a trend that the Braves would like to turnaround. Fortunately, the Braves finally got back Drake Baldwin which now turns a weakness to a strength.
Grant Holmes is taking the mound tonight against Adrian Houser. Holmes and Houser are both struggling of late so this could be a shootout between the two teams. Holmes has shown he really needs to be in the bullpen since he struggles the second time through the order, and Houser is likely only going to keep a rotation spot because he can eat innings.
Here is to hoping the Braves can get back on the right track. Follow along in the comments. First pitch is at 7:15 pm EDT.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 15: Framber Valdez #59 of the Detroit Tigers gestures to the crowd during his return to Daikin Park before a game against the Houston Astros on June 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes it’s okay to say goodbye.
That may be a difficult reality for Astros fans to accept, especially when it involves a player who played such a significant role in the organization’s success over the years. But after hearing Framber Valdez’ comments during his first return to Houston since signing with the Detroit Tigers, it became clear that some fans were bothered by the fact that the Astros apparently never reached out to him or made a serious effort to bring him back before or during free agency.
The question many fans have asked is simple: Why?
The answer is equally simple.
As good as Framber Valdez was throughout most of his Astros career, the version of Valdez that approached free agency was not the same dominant pitcher Houston had relied on for years. There was a time when every time he took the mound Astros fans felt confident their team was going to win. He was one of the most reliable starters in baseball and a key piece of multiple playoff runs.
But over his final season or two in Houston, there were signs of decline.
The flashes of brilliance were still there. The dominance would occasionally show up. However, so did the warning signs. His consistency slipped. There were more rough outings, more runs allowed, and diminished returns on both his velocity and command. Even his trademark breaking pitches didn’t seem to have the same effectiveness they once did.
When evaluating whether to commit a massive long-term contract to a pitcher, performance isn’t the only factor.
The Astros also had to consider Valdez’s emotional volatility.
Whether you believe his actions involving César Salazar were intentional or not, the optics were poor. More importantly, it reinforced concerns that have existed throughout much of his career. When things went wrong, Valdez often struggled to maintain his composure.
Astros fans have seen it before.
There were games where frustration appeared to overwhelm him. Instead of staying focused and working through adversity, he would abandon his approach and simply throw pitches over the plate. Postgame interviews occasionally featured comments that seemed to shift blame toward teammates or others rather than accepting responsibility himself.
Those concerns weren’t limited to the mound.
Valdez’s defense was also a recurring issue. Opposing teams understood that forcing him to field his position could create opportunities. Bunts and slow rollers often turned into adventures, and his throwing accuracy became a liability at times.
There were also documented disagreements regarding defensive positioning and game-planning strategies. One notable example came during a 2024 game against the Angels when frustration over the pitching plan appeared to contribute to a disastrous seven-run inning.
Yet the biggest factor in the Astros’ decision was likely the simplest one.
Age and mileage matter.
Valdez was already over 30 years old and had accumulated a significant workload on his arm. Baseball history is filled with examples of pitchers signing lucrative contracts after turning 30, only to see injuries and declining performance follow shortly thereafter.
General managers don’t get paid to reward past accomplishments. They get paid to project future performance.
Dana Brown and the Astros front office had to determine whether committing major money and years to Valdez made sense moving forward. Based on the available evidence, they concluded it did not.
And they were right.
That’s not to say fans aren’t justified in feeling disappointed. Valdez was a fan favorite and an important part of the Astros’ success. If you believe he earned at least a phone call or a conversation out of respect for everything he accomplished, that’s a fair argument.
But loyalty can only take a franchise so far.
The Astros had to make a baseball decision, and this appears to be one they got right.
The fact that Houston’s replacements haven’t performed particularly well this season is a separate discussion entirely. The Astros deserve criticism if their plan to replace Valdez has failed. However, that doesn’t automatically mean they should have re-signed him.
His results with the Tigers haven’t matched the best years of his Astros tenure, and the same emotional concerns have resurfaced. Most notably, during a recent game against the Red Sox, Valdez hit Trevor Story with a 94-mph fastball, was ejected, suspended six games, and later denied responsibility for the incident despite widespread criticism.
For Astros fans frustrated by another beloved player leaving town, the reaction is understandable. Houston has watched a long list of fan favorites depart over the years.
But not every goodbye is a mistake.
When you examine the total picture, his age, workload, declining performance, defensive shortcomings, emotional volatility, and the financial commitment required, the Astros’ decision to let Framber Valdez walk was the correct one.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JUNE 15: Will Wagner #7 of the San Diego Padres fields the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning at Busch Stadium on June 15, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (37-34) at St. Louis Cardinals (39-31), June 16, 2026, 4:45 a.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 09: Adrian Houser #12 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the top of the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park on June 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves this afternoon.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Adrian Houser, who enters today’s game with a 5.54 ERA, 5.18 FIP, with 46 strikeouts to 24 walks in 65 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals last Tuesday, in which he allowed three runs on four hits with six strikeouts in four and a third innings.
He’ll be facing off against Braves right-hander Grant Holmes, who enters today’s game with a 4.05 ERA, 5.26 FIP, with 59 strikeouts to 29 walks in 66.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Braves’ 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox last Tuesday, in which he allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in three and two thirds innings.
May 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
You gotta salivate over games like this. The Yankees are back home after a successful 5-1 road trip, claiming sole possession of first place in the AL East along the way. Gerrit Cole has looked strong in his return from Tommy John surgery, and the increasingly-wily veteran will go up against one of the game’s best, if little-known, right-handers as the resurgent Chicago White Sox send Davis Martin to the hill to open this three-game series in the Bronx.
Martin, 29, has broken out this season, already putting up three wins by fWAR. He doesn’t sit batters down at that remarkable a rate, but he’s awful hard to work a walk against — just 5.4 percent of batters faced have managed it this year. He throws the best changeup this side of Cristopher Sánchez, along with three different fastballs that, like Cam Schlittler, means most of his offerings end up in the zone. You’re only going to get on against Martin by hitting, so no point in keeping the bat on your shoulder tonight.
Cole has been great by ERA, and that three-homer game against the Guardians a couple weeks ago has skewed his FIP in a way I expect to normalize, if not to the tune of 2.45. He’s much craftier than the Cole we knew at signing, and I’m a little worried at how much of the contact he’s allowed has been in the air so far — a 30.2 percent groundball rate is the lowest of his career. Still, as long as the runs aren’t crossing the plate, he’s as reliable as he’s always been.
The only real note on the lineup today is the move of Cody Bellinger up to the second slot, commonly seen in this era as where the best hitter hits for most teams. Ben Rice leads off, looking to capitalize on a big weekend in Toronto after killing too many worms there for a stretch. Jasson Domínguez is on the bench after getting a tooth pulled. Painful.
Aug 31, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; A general view of Fenway Park as workers prepare for a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
We get a slightly earlier start than normal, which would have been good to know before I went for a workout.
