Casey Mize reveals reason behind spring troubles as Tigers rotation thins

Casey Mize's All-Star selection last season was both surprising and expected at the same time. The Detroit Tigers had always had high hopes for the former first overall pick, but for years, they got nothing close to what they had envisioned from the right-hander.

The performance didn't mean that he'd become the ace they thought they were getting when they picked him out of Auburn back in 2018, but if it meant that he could be a solid rotation contributor, it was something the club could live with.

However, this spring has been miserable for Mize. He's thrown 11 1/3 innings, but walked more batters (seven) than he has struck out (six) while being victimized by 14 hits — all of which have come together for a 7.15 ERA.

For many, it would be a frustrating development, but according to Mize, he knows where the problem lies. Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, his mechanics are off, and he hopes working with Detroit's pitching coaches can bring his timing back.

"My mechanics are off. Something is out of whack. I look forward to chatting with Robin (Lund) and Fett (Chris Fetter) to figure out what's going on. I just feel like my timing is still off. I've got to figure that out," Mize said.

But what happens if he doesn't?

The Tigers' rotation depth has taken some big hits, putting them in a precarious situation as Mize struggles to find his groove.

Casey Mize's explanation for his spring struggles has the Tigers on thin ice as their rotation options drop like flies

The overall line for Mize in 2025 looked more than fine. He threw 149 innings over 28 starts, posting a 3.87 ERA. After years of injuries and scuffles, it was a perfectly respectable mid-rotation performance.

Typically, you can't put too much stock into spring training numbers. Guys are knocking off the rust, and the samples are small. There's too much noise to draw meaningful conclusions — most of the time.

But in the case of Mize, it is concerning. While his final line was fine last year, the way it broke down wasn't. He earned that All-Star appearance on the strength of a 3.15 ERA. Over the second half of the season, though, he saw that mark balloon to 4.92. His scuffling now could be a continuation of a downturn that's been much more in line with his disappointing career numbers rather than his encouraging breakout.

A mechanical issue sounds easy enough to fix, but that's not always the case. If he can't figure it out, Detroit's once deep rotation is now running low on replacement options. As promising as Reese Olson has been, he can't stay healthy and is now out for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. Troy Melton has been a youngster that fans want to see more of, but he'll be out until at least late May with elbow inflammation.

Suddenly, there are few places to turn if Mize can't get back on track. Reuniting with Justin Verlander originally seemed like a nostalgia-fueled luxury, but now having the 43-year-old perform is taking on even greater importance. Framber Valdez was a big boost to the top of the rotation, and he's even more vital now.

The Tigers could really find themselves in a tough spot, though. If Mize can't get a handle on what's going wrong with his mechanics and Father Time comes for Verlander, they suddenly have two big question marks and little in the way of depth.

Maybe things won't be that bad, but Mize getting back on track is key — and given his second-half struggles, this might not be a matter of executing some simple tweaks. Instead, this could be a disaster in the making that should have Tigers fans holding their breath.