RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesWEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Yeah, Casey Mize was saying on Friday, July 31 – it’s a weird place to be. In limbo. Uncertain for whom he will take the mound next.
Could be for the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday in Seattle. Or it could be for any number of contenders who could use a former All-Star pitcher having a career season.
Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, is set to be a free agent come this winter, meaning there's a chance he could be on the move at the MLB trade deadline, set for 6 p.m. ET Monday. His numbers – 85 strikeouts, 19 walks, 2.70 ERA over 86 innings in 16 starts – would translate well to a team trying to get to the postseason, a description of the Tigers themselves not so long ago.
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As in, the past week in Detroit, before the Tigers went 3-4 against American League also-rans Kansas City and Baltimore. It’s hardly coincidence that the Tigers fell flat during their most recent homestand and suddenly Mize was scratched from his scheduled start here at Sutter Health Park against the Athletics .
So yeah, as Mize said, “weird place to be.”
He knew it was a possibility and when it was confirmed – A.J. Hinch told him Thursday at the team's hotel in California – he was disappointed.
“You know, I love to compete,” he said. “Selfishly, I feel like I'm putting my team in a bad spot, even though it wasn't my decision.”
As for the team?
“This is obviously not great,” he said, “a little bit upset that I’m not gonna be able to compete.”
Whether he has pitched his last game as a Tiger or not is unknown. But Mize is ready either way.
“I’m not naïve,” he said. “We’ll see what the weekend holds, and if nothing happens, I’ll pitch on Tuesday and we’ll go from there.”
Hinch can relate. He’s not naïve, either, after going through several volatile trade deadlines. None of those were with this group, not like this.
“It’s always hard this time of year,” he said. “There’s so much day by day that goes on, it changes, the conversations are ongoing. ... The tough part is how much an emotional roller coaster it is. I mean, we’ve been asked to win this series in a different way. It’s gonna start with a bullpen game.”
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Matt Vierling is going on the 10-day IL for a left groin issue. Hinch said the outfielder will get a second opinion and maybe even a third.
“It’s not going to be a minimum stay,” said Hinch.
Vierling left Wednesday’s game against Baltimore after hitting a triple. The move made room for Max Clark’s call-up, but the club was going to bring Clark up regardless after his scorching July and the adjustments he made at the plate to make it happen.
“He has performed his way to get to the big leagues,” Hinch of the rookie, who posted a 1.086 OPS with Toledo in July.
Right-hander Brenan Hanifee was optioned back to Toledo to make room for left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus. Hinch said Hanifee was sent down partly because he’d been used a lot recently and partly because the Athletics’ lineup has so many left-handed batters.
Jackon Jobe completed a bullpen session Friday, and Brant Hurter pitched a live batting practice session. Hinch said Jobe is scheduled to pitch another bullpen sometime this weekend. Outfielder Wenceel Pérez was slated to begin his rehab assignment with Low-A Lakeland on Saturday.
Contact Shawn Windsor: [email protected] . Follow him @shawnwindsor .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Casey Mize mired in 'weird place' with wait for MLB trade deadline
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