Casey Mize has watched his young teammates bring energy and success to the Detroit Tigers. He is eager to do his part.
The right-hander, sidelined for two months due to a strained left hamstring, is expected to return to the mound as the Tigers open a three-game weekend series against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday.
Detroit saw its six-game winning streak end with a 3-0 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.
“I’m hoping to help a team that’s been winning to continue to win,” Mize said. “That’s the most important thing because it’s a fun group right now and I look forward to helping out there. From a personal standpoint, just finishing strong and finishing the season healthy would be a super positive note.”
Mize (2-6, 4.23 ERA) tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Angels in his last major league outing on June 30. He faced the Red Sox once this season, giving up three runs (two earned) in four innings. In three career starts against Boston, he is 0-1 with a 4.20 ERA.
Mize has made four rehab starts for Triple-A Toledo since being placed on the injured list, and he compiled a 2.63 ERA. He was deemed ready to return to the big-league club after a bullpen session on Tuesday.
“I felt pretty good throughout the rehab outings,” he said. “I feel like I could have done more in each one, so I feel like we’re in a good spot.”
His teammates were in a good place until the offense was silenced on Thursday. Detroit went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, left 10 runners on base and grounded into two double plays.
“On the scoreboard, it looked like we had a lot of opportunities,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, “but we really didn’t string at-bats together like we have in recent days.”
Mize will be opposed by Tanner Houck (8-9, 3.23 ERA). In his latest start, Houck gave up six runs in six innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. He allowed seven hits and also issued four walks as the Red Sox squandered a four-run lead in a 7-5 loss.
“The command got worse,” Houck said. “Early on, I felt like I was pounding the zone, going right after guys. A little bit later on, was just off the (plate), out of the zone too much with everything.”
Houck had one of his best outings of the season against the Tigers on May 31. He held them to one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six in seven innings. In three career outings (two starts) against Detroit, he is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA.
Boston’s offense went cold on Thursday, producing just two hits in a 2-0 loss to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox are 16-22 since the All-Star break.
Boston slugger Rafael Devers missed the past three games due to a shoulder injury, but manager Alex Cora expects him back in the lineup on Friday.
“We saw good pitching against us,” Cora said after the shutout. “We’ll be ready (for the Detroit series). The big boy didn’t play for three days, so we’ll get him (Friday) and we’ll get going.”
The Red Sox are set to begin a six-game road trip that also includes a stop in New York to face the Mets.
–Field Level Media