Detroit Tigers, Game 43: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't

The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Mets on Wednesday: One thing I loved That was the outing the Tigers desperately needed from Framber Valdez, who, with Tarik Skubal recovering from arthroscopic elbow surgery, is the de facto ace of this pitching staff, whether he wants to be or not. Valdez was coming off one of the worst outings of his major-league career (if not the worst) — which ultimately led to his ejection, and then his suspension — and turned in 6. 2 impressive innings Wednesday.

He had all his pitches working, most impressively a lethal 12-to-6 breaking ball. He allowed five hits and two runs, while striking out seven. Valdez did walk two, including one in his last inning, the seventh, which he couldn't quite finish.

He departed with a 2-1 lead, before Bo Bichette's two-out single off Kyle Finnegan tied the game. But this was much more like the Valdez the Tigers believed they were getting when they signed him to a three-year, $115-million contract. And they need a whole lot more starts like this one, and no more starts like last one.

If the veteran lefty can oblige — through nine starts for Detroit, he has five very good ones, two so-so ones, and two very bad ones — that'd be a huge boon for a Tigers rotation that is patchwork right now, but also appears to be getting reinforcements soon, in Casey Mize and Troy Melton. Mize (right adductor strain) could return by the end of the week , and Melton (right elbow inflammation) threw a rehab game Wednesday, for Triple-A Toledo . Skubal's timetable for return still is TBD, with educated guesses ranging from a June to August comeback.