Casey Mize's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize said on Thursday that he's getting around 18 inches of induced vertical break compared to around 15 inches in the past on his fastball. "We just think the fastball up can be more of a weapon," Mize said. The fastball should pair well with his splitter, but Mize also talked about pairing it with his curveball. It could make all of the 26-year-old pitcher's offerings more effective, especially his fastball up in the zone. Fantasy managers should have tempered expectations for Mize in 2024, though, as he hasn't pitched in a big-league game since April of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery. The former first overall pick in 2018 still has plenty of upside if he can stay healthy, but we don't expect him to throw more than 140-150 innings this year.

While Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (back) was recovering from Tommy John surgery last spring, he also revealed that he had an unspecified back procedure to correct an injury he had been dealing with for "years." The former first overall pick in 2018 didn't pitch at all for Detroit in 2023 and hasn't pitched in a major-league game since April 14, 2022. The 26-year-old has dealt with several arm injuries already but is now a full-go this spring and should open the 2024 season in the starting rotation. In 188 2/3 total innings in the majors to this point, Mize has posted a 4.29 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 148 strikeouts. Fantasy managers should expect rust from Mize given his long layoff, and an inevitable innings limit this year will keep his fantasy ceiling rather low.

The Detroit Tigers and right-hander Casey Mize avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $840,000 deal plus a $3.1 million club option for the 2025 season, according to a source. 2023 was a lost season for Mize as he was rehabbing all year from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 26-year-old is fully healthy heading into spring training this year, though, and figures to open the season as a locked-in member of the starting rotation. The former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn has a 4.29 ERA (4.95 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 56 walks and 148 strikeouts in 39 starts over three major-league seasons so far. Mize could still develop into a strong big-league starter, but his fantasy ceiling will be limited by a likely innings limit in 2024.