The Detroit Tigers pulled Casey Mize from his scheduled start Friday against the Athletics, but the decision had nothing to do with injury. Instead, the club opted to protect the right-hander as trade speculation intensifies ahead of Monday's MLB trade deadline.
Detroit confirmed Mize is healthy, with the move serving as a precaution while the front office evaluates trade possibilities. The Tigers will instead piece together a bullpen game to open their weekend series at Sutter Health Park.
The decision follows a familiar blueprint for Detroit. The organization similarly scratched Jack Flaherty before trading him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline, avoiding any last-minute injury that could jeopardize a deal.
Mize has emerged as one of Detroit's most dependable starters this season, posting a 2.70 ERA across 16 starts with 85 strikeouts, 19 walks and a 0.99 WHIP over 86.2 innings. The former No. 1 overall pick has also battled multiple right adductor injuries this year, making the club's cautious approach understandable despite confirming he is healthy.
The 29-year-old acknowledged earlier this week that his previous home outing "could've been my last home start," while adding that his biggest goal is simply "to win." If he remains with Detroit after Monday's deadline, he is expected to take the mound Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners.
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The Tigers enter Friday in fourth place in the American League Central at 51-58, while the Athletics sit fourth in the American League West at 45-64. Both clubs are expected to be active sellers before the Monday deadline, making the series an unusual matchup between teams evaluating veterans and future pieces.
Detroit's decision also reinforces that Mize remains one of its most valuable trade assets alongside names like Tarik Skubal and Gleyber Torres. Whether he makes another start in a Tigers uniform now depends less on his health and more on what unfolds over the next few days.
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