Tigers fans in a panic after Casey Mize abruptly leaves game vs Braves

UPDATE: Javier Báez also exited the game in the top of the fifth after a rough run into first base. Mize was later diagnosed on-broadcast with groin discomfort. The Braves may have cursed us.

Casey Mize has been a stalwart for the Tigers' pitching staff through his first five starts — 28 1/3 innings pitched, only eight runs allowed. It was development that the Tigers needed from one of the two wild cards in their rotation (the other being Jack Flaherty, who has been up-and-down but mostly bad), and crucial for Mize in a walk year.

He took the mound against the Braves on Tuesday night and pitched two innings of scoreless ball, despite running into some trouble early after a leadoff double for Ronald Acuña.

The third presented immediate issues. Mike Yastrzemski led off with a double, then Acuña brought him in with another double. It was nothing that Mize or the Tigers couldn't plausibly overcome, but then Drake Baldwin sent a tapper down the left field line.

Mize fielded the ball and tossed it to first to secure the out. It look routine, but Mize quickly exited the game without looking back. Brant Hurter was quick to come out of the bullpen.

Oh, no.

Casey Mize exits Tigers start vs. Braves with apparent injury after fielding ground ball

If this apparent injury proves serious, it's going to be a problem for the Tigers, who have little-to-no starting pitching depth. All of their would-be options — Troy Melton, in particular — are on the IL and don't appear close to returns. Melton is progressing down in Lakeland after going onto the IL with elbow inflammation during spring training, but he's still in the process of throwing live batting practices and is clearly nowhere near a return.

We'll hold out hope, but an IL stint for Mize almost certainly spells the return of pitching chaos for the Tigers. Even if they were to call up a pitcher who has some starting experience (Sawyer Gipson-Long or Ty Madden seem like the leading candidates), AJ Hinch might prefer to throw some unpredictability into the mix as the Tigers wait on one of their many injured starters to make their ways back.

Madden, at least, has been solid in Triple-A after being demoted during spring training. The Tigers could give him a few sporadic starts, but history tells us that Hinch would be quicker to introduce an opener and then insert another pitcher for a bulk appearance.

While Mize's exit could've just been precautionary, it took him and the Tigers' staff almost no time at all to decide that he needed to come out of the game. Keep your fingers crossed.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow