CHICAGO – One day after Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize experienced a groin issue and was pulled from a start against the Los Angeles Angels, he was feeling “pretty good” and “optimistic.”
“Compared to the last couple times that my groin flared up, definitely, today’s been the best day one,” Mize said on Monday, July 20. “We’re kind of going to take it day by day. You know, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about things, but we’re honestly just going to reevaluate at the end of each day where we’re at.”
Mize was hit on the wrist of his glove hand by a nasty comebacker in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
At the same time, Mize was experiencing the groin issue, so Tigers manager A.J. Hinch took him out.
“A couple long innings there,” Mize said. “Weird mound. Heat. So I think it kind of all culminated a little bit. Like going into the start, I felt great, you know. So I think just kind of throughout the game started to recognize it, and then you know to start the fourth inning, just wasn’t feeling my best.”Mize has been dealing with a groin issue for much of this season.
“I would say it’s the same issue,” Mize said. “We’re just gonna keep trying to find ways to get it right. We’ve been working really hard on it, and we’re really diligent about it. So that’s what makes it a little bit more annoying.”
Mize was pulled after throwing 3⅓ innings, giving up one earned run on five hits. He struck out five while walking one.
Even though Mize has dealt with this “minor” issue, as he calls it, it hasn’t impacted his performance. He owns a 2.79 ERA – the lowest of his career – in 80⅔ innings this season.
“That’s something I’m proud of,” Mize said. “I feel like my quality’s still good, even with this affecting me, I guess, since May or late April or whatever. So it also makes me wonder how much better it could be, if I wasn’t going through this.”
Javier Báez starts rehab
Javier Báez was set to start his minor-league rehab stint on Tuesday with Class-A Lakeland against Fort Myers, the affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, on Monday night.
He has been out April 28 with an ankle injury.
Jackson Jobe update
Right-hander Jackson Jobe, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, will get another rehab start with Double-A Erie.
He pitched three innings for Erie on Sunday, giving up three hits and striking out three with no walks.
“Jackson was up to 100 again, which is not surprising,” Hinch said. “He felt great, so three innings, exactly what we wanted. He’ll pitch again this weekend with Double-A.”
Erie is set to face the Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, this weekend.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers injury update: Javier Báez (ankle) starting rehab stint
Reporting by Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
