Tigers News: A.J. Hinch Optimistic About Return of Casey Mize

Casey Mize is trending toward making his return to the Detroit Tigers this Friday against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. After a two-month recovery from a left hamstring strain, Mize is eligible to come off the injured list and is expected to start in the series opener.

The Tigers will meet with Mize to finalize his return plan, and there’s optimism about his readiness to pitch. If all goes well, he will take the mound, allowing fellow pitcher Tarik Skubal to start on Saturday with extra rest.

"We're anticipating a good meeting with Casey tomorrow," Manager A.J. Hinch said via the Detroit Free Press, "and if he can bounce back, that's on the horizon."

During his rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo, Mize made four starts, showcasing solid performance. In his last outing, he pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out seven batters. Overall, he finished his rehab with a 2.63 ERA and improved his slider's effectiveness, achieving a 33.3% whiff rate compared to 18.9% during his earlier season with the Tigers.

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Before his injury, Mize had a 4.23 ERA over 16 starts, with 58 strikeouts in 78⅔ innings. His last appearance was on June 30.