Amidst All The Challenges, Detroit Tiger Announce Yet Again Another Devastating Injury Of A Top Prospect Sunday Evening

The Detroit Tigers were among the top teams in baseball during the first half of the season, but lately, things have started to unravel.

Injuries and inconsistent performances have disrupted their momentum, forcing the team to rely on unexpected sources to fill innings. A potentially serious development on Sunday could make things even worse.

Right-hander Casey Mize, who’s had a strong comeback season, was removed from his start after a noticeable drop in velocity, prompting the training staff to check his right leg.

Earlier this season, Mize was sidelined for two weeks with a strain in his left hamstring, the same leg that kept him out for two months last year. If this new issue is with his right leg, it would be unrelated to his past injuries.

Still, if Mize is forced to miss time again, it could spell major problems for Detroit. Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty are the only starters who have stayed healthy all season — and Flaherty appears to be trending downward.

While the Tigers are optimistic about Reese Olson returning soon, they’ve already lost standout rookie Jackson Jobe for the season due to Tommy John surgery — and they simply can’t afford to lose another arm in the rotation.

Using a patchwork approach to fill the back of the rotation can work over time, but dealing with three open spots would put Detroit in a serious bind.

For much of the season, the Tigers have looked like a legitimate contender in the American League. But at this rate, just getting through the second half of the schedule could be a real challenge.

Casey Mize

Given Casey Mize’s history of injuries, there’s little reason to assume his latest exit was just precautionary. Until they have a firm diagnosis, Detroit will be holding its breath.

Regardless of the specific issue, it’s clear that starting pitching has emerged as the team’s top need heading into the trade deadline.

If they’ve indeed lost another starter, the Tigers might not be able to wait for the deadline — a move could come in the next week or two.

Detroit is definitely a team to watch closely as pitching becomes more of a priority.