The Detroit Tigers have reportedly scratched right-handed pitcher Casey Mize from his scheduled Friday night start as a precautionary measure related to a potential trade. The team plans to utilize a bullpen day in his absence.
Should Mize not be traded before Monday's MLB deadline, he is slated to start for the Tigers on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners. Mize has recorded a 2.70 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP over 86 2/3 innings pitched this season, earning him his first career All-Star selection. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft but has been limited to 16 starts due to a groin injury that placed him on the injured list twice this season.
Mize, like his teammate Tarik Skubal, is eligible for free agency after the current season. This development comes as speculation intensifies around the future of Skubal, who made what is believed to be his final start for the Tigers on Wednesday.
Skubal, who previously missed about six weeks due to elbow surgery, has a 2.79 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP over 96 2/3 innings pitched. The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly considered the favorites to acquire Skubal, with the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees also linked to trade discussions. In his most recent outing, Skubal recorded his 1,000th career strikeout.
Other players on the Tigers who could be involved in trades include second baseman Gleyber Torres and relief pitchers Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan. The Tigers currently hold a 51-58 record, placing them 4.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild-card spot and 6.5 games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.