Casey Mize Once Again Dominates as Tigers Even Series

The Tigers added to the lead in the fifth. Javier Báez singled, and rookie Kevin McGonigle brought him home with a double to right. Colt Keith followed with an RBI single, extending Detroit’s advantage to 4-1.

Mize carried that lead into the seventh inning before exiting after issuing a leadoff walk. The Tigers bullpen preserved the advantage, with Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest bridging the gap to the ninth.

Milwaukee trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the eighth on an RBI single from Jake Bauers, but Kerry Carpenter answered in the bottom half with a solo home run to right field, restoring a three-run cushion.

Closer Kenley Jansen worked a tense ninth inning, loading the bases before getting Brice Turang to ground out to first.

The Tigers finished with timely contributions throughout the lineup, highlighted by McGonigle’s two-hit night and RBI double, along with Keith’s run-scoring single. Torkelson’s home run proved to be the difference, snapping his early-season power drought and giving Detroit a lead it would not relinquish.

For Mize, the outing continued a strong stretch to open the season. He has four quality starts under his belt now.

Command Over Stuff (and Why It Matters)

Here’s where this outing separates itself.

Mize posted a 61% strike rate overall, but more importantly, look at how he attacked the zone:

• Slider zone%: 70
• Sinker zone%: 71
• Four-seam: 53

He wasn’t nibbling. He was challenging.

And yet, hitters still chased 19% of pitches outside the zone.

That’s sequencing flowing well.

Prior to the game, the Tigers called up RHP Burch Smith and sent down Emanuel De Jesus to Toledo.

Detroit will look to take the series in the finale, as Tarik Skubal takes the mound in a day game starting at 1:10pm.

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