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Framber Valdez incident: Astros players confront him

After a crushing loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, the Houston Astros were able to turn things around in the second game of the series last night (Wednesday), coming from behind to erase a three-run deficit and claim an 8-7 victory that extends their lead in the American League Western Section standings.

However, Houston, we have a problem.

After Tuesday’s incident, when Framber Valdez hit his catcher Cesar Salazar, several former players and analysts said they believed what happened was intentional. Valdez denied this was the case after the game, insisting it was a simple misunderstanding. But Valdez and Salazar’s reaction at the time said it all.

And it seems that the players in the Astros’ locker room wanted answers from the left-hander. So much so that, according to Michael Schwab, tensions rose in the clubhouse where the players confronted Valdez and things got to the point where the argument escalated and the coaches finally intervened to calm the situation.

This does not bode well for the Texans. Although Valdez tried to downplay the situation, the fact that several players felt the need to confront him to the point that there was a heated discussion doesn’t mitigate the idea that something fishy took place.

It’s hard to know exactly what will come out of this situation, but with the playoffs just around the corner, whether Valdez is innocent or not, it will certainly leave its mark.

It’ll be something to keep an eye on for the rest of the year, because based on what Schwab reported, it sounds like there are a lot of Valdez teammates who weren’t happy with what happened. And that could escalate pretty quickly.

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Blue Jays’ forward steps up in big win over Reds

Last night, the Cincinnati Reds were visited by the Toronto Blue Jays in the final game of the series between the two teams. Both needed a win, let’s say.

And early in the game, it was the Reds who were hungrier.

Against Shane Bieber, who pitched on a regular five-day rest for the first time in the Majors in 2025, the Reds scored five times in the second inning. It was a bad start in Toronto.

But not only did Bieber give nothing back (he pitched six innings), but the hitters really showed up to win.

Even though Cincinnati added a few runs to the tally against the reliever (obviously), Toronto’s offense scored 13 runs in the game’s final seven innings. This was achieved via five home runs.

George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit long balls to help the Blue Jays win their game. In a 13-9 win, it made the difference.

But what’s even better, for the Blue Jays, is that both the Yankees and Red Sox lost.

The Yankees had a rough end to the game (ejections and whining on the menu) and lost to the Astros, even though they led early. It’s a painful defeat.

And Red Sox fans, who are mourning the loss of Roman Anthony, saw the reliever (especially Jordan Hicks, the disliked one in town) miss out on a game against the Cleveland Guardians.

The result? Both clubs are within 3.5 games of the Blue Jays and the top spot in the East.

This weekend, the Red Sox take on the Diamondbacks, while the Blue Jays are in the Bronx for a three-game series against the Yankees.

And even if the Bombers were to pull out the broom on Monday, the Blue Jays would still be at the top of the division.

  • The Padres are going to have to win a few more games. They were swept by the Orioles.
  • Enjoy.

  • Did he purposely not give the ball back from an opponent’s first hit?

  • Matt Chapman contested his one-game suspension (in connection with Tuesday night’s events) and took the opportunity to hit two big home runs. The Giants have won 10 of their last 11 games.

  • Immaculate sleeve for Mason Miller.

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Passion MLB – The Podcast, Episode 78

In this week’s episode, Félix Forget and Charles-Alexis Brisebois discuss the Blue Jays bullpen, Roman Anthony and the Framber Valdez case, to name but a few.

Enjoy.

We remind you that people who want to listen to us live can do so every Wednesday at 8 p.m. on Facebook, on X and on YouTube. We record live to answer everyone’s questions.

However, those who want to listen to us in a more traditional podcast format can also do so by visiting all the good podcast platforms at any time.

SpotifyYouTubeApple PodcastAmazon Music

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MLB in brief: George Springer the MVP? | Rob Manfred has not yet visited the Blue Jays

George Springer the MVP?

He’ll get votes, as he dominates in 2025. Over a 45-game span, he has stats a la Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Transfer of power

Jacob deGrom versus Nolan McLean on Friday of next week? Could be.

Rob Manfred has yet to visit the Blue Jays

Will Max Scherzer get angry, like Bryce Harper did?

Top free agents this winter

Kyle Schwarber at #4 only?

Kodai Senga in the minors?

Possibly. He has to say yes, though.

The league’s top prospects

Who’s at the top, according to Jim Bowden?

Aaron Judge and the outfield

When will it happen?

Season over for Shelby Miller

Ouch.

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Roman Anthony’s season is probably over

It’s a battle for the top of the division in the American East. The Blue Jays have a 2.5-game lead… but the Yankees and Red Sox are on fire and want to try and supplant the Jays.

And with several games between these three teams over the next few weeks, it’s going to be a fierce battle to the finish.

But today, the Red Sox situation just got a whole lot more complicated. Last night, the club saw Roman Anthony injure himself on a swing… and he had to leave the game.

So we were expecting a diagnosis today… and as it turns out, the news isn’t good: Anthony has an oblique muscle injury and is going on the injured list, missing between four and six weeks.

His regular season is therefore likely to be over (unless he returns before four weeks).

Obviously, this is a major blow for Boston. Anthony had already established himself as one of the Red Sox’s best (and possibly best ) position players… and it will be very difficult to replace him.

Not the way the Red Sox would have liked to deal with their outfield surplus, let’s say… especially since, with Wilyer Abreu also sidelined, the club doesn’t really have that surplus to deal with anymore.

Anthony’s injury could also keep him out for the start of the playoffs. Boston should be able to get there even without its young star outfielder… but it’s far from certain that he’ll be back once the playoffs begin.

We can assume that he’ll do everything to be there, but it’s not guaranteed.

A very hard blow to Boston, then. Let’s see if the Red Sox can stay the course.

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Trey Yesavage reminded: “it’s on the table”

Trey Yesavage is the Blue Jays’ top prospect on the mound. And this season, he’s been climbing the minor league ladder at breakneck speed.

Right now, he’s playing for the Buffalo Bisons. And considering how much the Blue Jays’ bullpen is chomping at the bit, his name often comes up in discussions about a potential recall.

There are a number of indications that he could help the Major League bullpen.

First, John Schneider has said it’s a possibility. Second, the club has been managing his innings count all season to keep him fresh and available in September.

And third, yesterday, the Bisons had him pitching out of the bullpen. In three innings, he retired six guys on strikes.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith, this was no fluke. The starter, who would be used in relief in Toronto in 2025 if recalled, needs to get used to coming out of the bullpen and warming up faster if he ever needs to do so in the Majors.

According to the Sportsnet reporter, there is indeed a world in which Yesavage could make his Major League debut in 2025. It’s not necessarily likely, but it’s on the table.

And by the way: the Toronto club can arrange to have him in the playoffs – if need be – even if he’s not currently on the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster.

Let’s not forget, however, that this year, Yesavage took a bit of a beating every time he moved up a rung in the minors, before starting to dominate again. Will that be a drag on the Blue Jays? Who knows.

But the way the club’s relievers have been pitching in recent weeks, it’s easy to see why the idea is on the table.

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Bo Bichette is not seen as a shortstop across MLB

After a rather difficult 2024 campaign, Bo Bichette is having a phenomenal season with the Toronto Blue Jays. This comes at a good time, as he heads to the free agent market at the end of the season.

However, there is a downside that could affect his value this winter. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Bichette is not considered a long-term shortstop by many Major League Baseball teams.

The market for shortstops this winter is very thin. You have Bo Bichette. But Bichette, in the eyes of many in the industry, shouldn’t be at shortstop, or at least not for much longer.

This will be a huge blow to his potential value in the off-season, since if Manfred Circuit organizations see him as a second-cushion player, the money he would be paid would be significantly less.

The problem for Bichette is that he currently ranks 34th among MLB shortstops with -13 strikeouts above average defensively (OAA). That puts him dead last among qualified players at the position, even behind New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe and his lofty -8.

The only thing that could tip the scales in the 27-year-old’s favor is the very weak crop of players playing the number six position this winter. Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story could opt out of his contract, as could Ha-Seong Kim with the Atlanta Braves. Otherwise, Miguel Rojas, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Amed Rosario are in the mix. Nothing to write home about.

Bichette currently boasts a .310 batting average, with 18 home runs, 91 runs batted in and 76 runs scored. He has an OPS of .832 with a wRC+ of 130, which would be a career high for a full season.

Perhaps these numbers could make a difference.

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Framber Valdez refuses the signals, grants a grand slam and hits his catcher (intentionally?)

The New York Yankees won for the eighth time in a row at the home of the Houston Astros last night (Tuesday), this time by a score of 7-1.

One of the reasons for the Bombardiers’ win was that Astros pitcher Framber Valdez and catcher Cesar Salazar were not on the same wavelength in the game.

Indeed, the two men seemed lost like deer on the highway at at least two points in the game, one of which resulted in a grand slam off the bat of Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, his second in five days.

At this point, Valdez was preparing to throw to Grisham when Salazar appeared to be trying to wave him off the mound. Salazar waved his hand at Valdez, seeming to disagree about the pitch to come.

Perhaps Valdez should have listened to his catcher, since that’s when Grisham hit the shot over the left-field wall for a four-run shot.

But that’s not all. In the next at-bat, Valdez and Salazar were once again on different planets. Salazar was now set up inside behind Anthony Volpe and seemed to be expecting an effect ball, but Valdez threw a 93 MPH fastball directly at Salazar, hitting him in the chest.

Salazar was confused, while Valdez quickly turned around, apparently in the hope of avoiding eye contact with his catcher.

Valdez had one of his worst outings of the season, allowing six runs and eight hits in five innings of work on the mound.

The latter is not used to working with Salazar, who was in the line-up in place of Yainer Diaz, and the duo can be expected not to work together again, at least for the remainder of this campaign.

After the game, Valdez apologized to his catcher, but said he hadn’t done it on purpose.

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Provoking a scrum and playing third base: Rafael Devers had a busy evening

If you didn’t watch the game between the Giants and Rockies last night, it’s hard to blame you. After all, with so many races across the Majors, a duel between two teams that won’t be in the playoffs isn’t exactly the stuff of dreams.

And yet, there was plenty of action to go around… all courtesy of Rafael Devers.

It didn’t take long for things to get going: Devers was the second batter to come to the plate in the game. And he catapulted a Kyle Freeland offering into the stands for his 30th home run of the season.

But what really stands out is that, on the field, Freeland and Devers started shouting insults at each other… and that set off a firestorm.

Both benches emptied and we were treated to a good old-fashioned free-for-all.

What we understand is that, in Freeland’s eyes, Devers looked at his circuit a little too long (possibly because he wanted to make sure it wasn’t a foul ball). So Freeland started shouting at him… and Devers didn’t like it.

It was Freeland that wanted to stir up trouble.

So Devers went around the bases several minutes after his home run… and more importantly, after seeing three guys thrown out: Freeland, Willy Adames and… Matt Chapman.

The former Red Sox was not ejected, however… and that’s an important detail for the future.

Because with Chapman gone, the Giants needed a third baseman. So, for the first time all season, Devers (who started the game at first base) played third base. He took Matt Chapman’s glove, by the way.

Big night for Devers.

And in the end, the Giants came away with a 7-4 victory over the Rockies, who suffered their 100th loss of the season.

But what will be remembered is Devers’ big night… on several levels.

  • Roman Anthony is injured. The same goes for Kyle Tucker in Chicago.

  • He’s been rolling since his recall.

  • Trey Yesavage did well in three innings of relief. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays won in Cincinnati.

  • And 51.

  • Skin problems for Mike Trout.

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Red Sox : Dustin May in the bullpen | Payton Tolle will start on Friday

The Red Sox have decided to shake up their rotation.

A few days after releasing Walker Buehler, the Boston outfit has decided that another former Dodger will leave the rotation – in the short term, at least. Dustin May, as announced, is now off to the Red Stockings bullpen.

Clearly, the club isn’t fooling around with its rotation anymore. #SeriesRace

In fact, everything points to Kyle Harrison taking his place in the rotation tomorrow. The youngster has been recalled from Worcester, he’ll be active tomorrow and the club has no official starter in sight.

In fact, both Harrison and May should pitch tomorrow, to some extent.

Note that we can expect to see May back in the rotation at some point – perhaps as early as next week in Sacramento. In the meantime, however, he’s sending a message that the club has no time for complacency.

But it’s also worth mentioning that Payton Tolle, who made his Major League debut last week and won the hearts of Reds Sox fans in the process, will be the starter next Friday. This was confirmed by Alex Cora.

In Cora’s eyes, Tolle is a starter. That’s how the organization sees it.

So Tolle is a starter until proven otherwise, and May could reclaim his starting pitcher’s job (at Harrison’s expense?) next week, if nothing changes in Boston.

Garrett Hook, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are the club’s other starters, obviously. But that, barring injury, is not likely to change.

  • Trey Yesavage in the bullpen tonight.

  • Players of the week.

  • Wilyer Abreu is not progressing as expected.

  • Big injury for Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

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