Tigers News: Casey Mize Shows Promise with Splitter but Feels Frustration on Mound

Casey Mize, the Detroit Tigers' right-handed pitcher, recently expressed his frustrations after a performance against the Colorado Rockies, despite the team's 7-4 victory.

Mize was pulled from the game with two outs in the fifth inning after throwing just 66 pitches, leading him to comment , "I was mad at myself... I could have gotten way more outs and done more for our bullpen."

The decision to remove him was based on the coaching staff's strategy to avoid Mize facing Rockies' hitter Ryan McMahon for a third time.

In his 19th start of the season, Mize's statistics showcased a mixed performance, as he registered a 4.47 ERA over 94⅔ innings.

Although he allowed four runs on six hits, three of which occurred in the fifth before he was relieved, Mize's outing was considered one of his better ones this season.

A significant bright spot was his improved splitter, which produced an impressive whiff rate of 61.5%.

Mize succeeded in generating eight whiffs on just 13 swings while throwing 19 splitters, noting his comfort with the pitch and emphasizing its effectiveness by stating , "If I try to throw it harder, it just comes out of my hand a little bit truer."

Detroit’s manager, A.J. Hinch, acknowledged Mize’s performance, praising his ability to respond to adversity early in the game. However, Hinch pointed out that the execution of pitches became inconsistent as the game advanced.

"I thought he responded well to the first sign of adversity (in the second inning)," Hinch said after Thursday's game.

"It looked like he had pretty good feel for his split. He threw a lot of them. Early in the game, I thought he had a pretty decent breaking ball, and then execution got a little bit spotty as the game went along."

Despite his frustrations regarding being unable to finish the inning, Mize concluded on a positive note, expressing that "the important thing is we won," crediting the bullpen for holding the lead after his exit.

Takeaway

Mize's recent performance highlights both the potential and the challenges he faces on the mound.

His ability to harness his splitter's effectiveness suggests a forward trajectory, yet his frustrations underscored the reality of a pitcher striving for consistency.

As he continues to navigate the ups and downs that come with recovery and adaptation, Mize remains committed to contributing to the Tigers' successes.