DETROIT — Shane Bieber is where Casey Mize wants to eventually get, topping the pitching staff of a contending team while closing in on a potential American League Cy Young Award and pitching triple crown. They shared the same mound at Comerica Park, but Thursday’s 10-3 Tigers loss to the
DETROIT — Shane Bieber is where Casey Mize wants to eventually get, topping the pitching staff of a contending team while closing in on a potential American League Cy Young Award and pitching triple crown. They shared the same mound at Comerica Park, but Thursday’s 10-3 Tigers loss to the Indians showed the lessons Mize has to learn along the way.
What looked to be a matchup of aces present and future instead became a battle between Mize and his command in his sixth Major League start. Five days after Mize dueled Lucas Giolito in Chicago with five no-hit innings, his pitching duel opposite Bieber fell apart with two home runs from José Ramírez, then three fourth-inning walks.
Fastball command was key for Mize to keep the formidable White Sox lineup contained last week. On Thursday, the fastball looked like the only pitch Mize could command, an ominous sign against an Indians lineup that struggled against offspeed pitches when the Tigers took two of three in Cleveland last month.
Jason Beck has covered the Tigers for MLB.com since 2002. Read Beck’s Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.