The Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies were slated to play three games in three days, but rain condensed the schedule.
Detroit took the opener 8-6 in 10 innings on Wednesday night, and now the teams will wrap up the series with a traditional doubleheader on Thursday.
Colorado will send left-hander Kyle Freeland (0-4, 5.70 ERA) to oppose right-hander Casey Mize (5-1, 2.70) in the first game. The Rockies will recall Tanner Gordon from the minors to pitch in the nightcap, while the Tigers had not announced their second starter.
Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, was originally going to start Thursday, but his turn was pushed back to the Friday opener of a three-game home series against the Texas Rangers.
Freeland has never faced Detroit in his nine-year career, while Mize has started one game against the Rockies, a no-decision last year. In 4 2/3 innings, Mize allowed four runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven.
Gordon, set to make his major league season debut, has opposed the Tigers once. His latest major league appearance came on Sept. 11, 2024 at Detroit. He took the loss in a forgettable start, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Gordon is still looking for his first major league victory. He started eight games last season and finished 0-6 with an 8.65 ERA. He has made six starts for Triple-A Albuquerque this season, going 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA.
Freeland, a Denver native, broke in with Colorado in 2017 and reached a milestone the last time he toed the rubber. His start at San Francisco on May 1 was the 207th of his career, the most in franchise history. On Thursday, he will extend that record.
“Growing up as a kid in Denver, (I) never even thought I’d be playing for the Rockies let alone being at the top of a lot of the leaderboards with this organization,” Freeland said after his outing against the Giants, when he gave up three runs in six innings. “I wear that with honor, being able to be a part of this organization for so long, to be able to create those milestones for myself. I couldn’t do it without my teammates and family around me.”
Mize is just two victories from matching his career high for a season, which came across 30 starts in 2021. He was limited to two starts in 2022 and he missed all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. Last season, Mize returned to appear in 22 games — 20 starts — and finished 2-6 with a 4.49 ERA.
The 28-year-old Alabama native has the potential to make 2025 a breakout season. He has won his past three starts and has had an ERA below 3.00 all year. Mize has gone seven innings twice this season, including Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, when he permitted four runs in a road win.
“I have very high expectations for myself, always have, always will,” said Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. “I always expect more out of myself and knew I would get back to being a quality contributor.”
–Field Level Media
