Detroit Tigers’ right-hander Casey Mize and shortstop Javier Baez were placed on the injured list on Wednesday after both were hurt during Tuesday’s loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Mize, 27, is on the 15-day IL with a right adductor strain. The 2025 All-Star appeared to be in pain after a second-inning strikeout, then departed in the third after a throw to first base. He is the Tigers’ eighth pitcher to join the IL and second piece of the team’s Opening Day rotation, joining Justin Verlander (left hip inflammation). On the IL since April 4, Verlander threw a bullpen session Wednesday.
“Probably the most optimistic news we can get on Casey, that it’s a Grade 1,” Detroit A.J. Hinch told reporters before Wednesday’s game in Atlanta.
Baez, a three-time All-Star, landed on the 10-day IL after his right cleat appeared to stick in the dirt as he slid feet-first into first base in the fifth after hitting a slow ground ball. In obvious pain, the 33-year-old veteran was lifted from the game.
“Javy’s (injury) is a pretty significant ankle sprain, so I don’t know what that means in terms of timeline, other than it’s a minimum of 15 days and if he’s back by then, that’s great. If it takes longer, it’s because of swelling and soreness,” Hinch said.
Mize is 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA in six starts in 2026, striking out 35 with 11 walks and posting a 1.194 WHIP over 31 innings. Over six seasons with the Tigers, who selected him No. 1 overall in the 2018 draft, Mize is 25-27 with a 4.11 ERA over 95 games (93 starts). In 471 innings, he has 400 strikeouts, 132 walks and a 1.282 WHIP.
In 2026, Baez is hitting .256 with a pair of homers and six RBIs in 24 games. Drafted No. 9 overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2011 draft, he is a .252 hitter with 195 home runs, 691 RBIs and 116 stolen bases over a 13-year career. Along with the Cubs (2014-21) and Tigers (2022-present), Baez has also played for the Mets (2021).
With Baez out, rookie prospect Kevin McGonigle is the lone healthy shortstop on the Tigers’ roster until Zach McKinstry (left hip/abdominal inflammation) returns. The team’s No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Hao-Yu Lee, is another short-term option with Baez and McKinstry sidelined.
In corresponding moves, the Tigers recalled left-hander Enmanuel De Jesus and third baseman Jace Jung from Triple-A Toledo.
Jung, 25, was in Wednesday’s lineup against the Braves as the designated hitter in his season debut, with McGonigle getting the start at shortstop. Jung was a first-round pick (12th) of the Tigers in 2022 and debuted in 2024. In 55 games over two seasons entering Tuesday, Jung hit .190 with six RBIs.
De Jesus, 29, made the Opening Day roster as a reliever, posting a 1-0 record and a 10.13 ERA in six appearances spanning eight innings. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Miami Marlins, posting an 11.37 ERA in two relief appearances.
–Field Level Media
