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Casey Mize has personality — and experience — to lead Detroit Tigers into must-win Game 4
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- Casey Mize has personality — and experience — to lead Detroit Tigers into must-win Game 4
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize is ready for the biggest start of his MLB career: It's a must-win Game 4 in the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners .
He loves to compete.
He's also an intense player.
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His passionate personality matches the fierce competition of the MLB playoffs , making Mize the perfect pitcher — of those not named Tarik Skubal — to lead the Tigers into their crucial clash with the Mariners on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Comerica Park.
"I play to win," Mize said before Tuesday's 8-4 loss in Game 3, creating a must-win scenario in Game 4. "That's what I care about the most. I love to prepare and compete and hang out with these guys and travel and do all these things, but winning is what I like to do the most."
MORE ABOUT HIM: How Tigers' Casey Mize overcame 'tough thoughts' for first MLB All-Star appearance
Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) gets ready to pitch against Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of Game 2 of AL wild-card series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
A lot has changed for Mize in the past seven days.
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The biggest change?
The 28-year-old started the first game of his postseason career Oct. 1 in Game 2 of the AL wild-card series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. He allowed one run on one hit and two walks with one strikeout across three innings, throwing 62 pitches. The Guardians hit the ball hard several times, including George Valera 's solo home run in the first inning, which is why the Tigers didn't let Mize pitch deep into the game.
The Tigers ended up losing, 6-1 .
"Experience helps," Mize said. "It's still anticipated, and I really look forward to it, but now it's just about the scoreboard. For me, it's less of an unknown. I've experienced that. I've done it."
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EARLIER IN OCTOBER: Casey Mize start for Tigers in Game 2 of AL wild card is full-circle comeback
In 2025, Mize — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft — logged a 3.87 ERA with 36 walks and 139 strikeouts across 149 innings in 28 starts during the regular season. He made the All-Star Game for the first time in his five-year MLB career.
He has come a long way since Tommy John surgery forced him to miss the entire 2023 season .
"Going through difficult times or whatever the past few years, it's getting back on the field and being productive," Mize said, "but then being called upon to compete and be your best in times of need, it's every athlete's dream."
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Before the AL wild card, Mize was one of five players on the Tigers' roster who hadn't experienced the postseason. The others: right-hander Troy Melton , right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan , catcher Dillon Dingler and outfielder Jahmai Jones .
One week later, the postseason isn't a new experience for Mize anymore.
"It's the same game," Mize said, "but now I have a little bit of experience doing it."
To get to elimination, the Tigers won 3-2 in Game 1 , lost 3-2 in Game 2 and lost 8-4 in Game 3 . The offense failed to score enough runs to support Melton in Game 1 and Skubal in Game 2, then right-hander Jack Flaherty struggled in Game 3.
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"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," manager A.J. Hinch said after Tuesday's 8-4 loss . "We knew it wasn't going to be hand-gifted to us. We're going to have to earn it and play better in all aspects against a really good team, and we can, because we have a really good team, too."
Flaherty hopes the Tigers bounce back in Game 4.
"We got to show some fight," Flaherty said after Tuesday's game, in which he allowed four runs (three earned runs) across 3⅓ innings. "We got our guy on the mound. We got a lot of faith in Casey and what he's going to do — come out and set the tone."
The Tigers must win Game 4 of the ALDS to save their season and force a winner-take-all Game 5. (If the Mariners win in Game 4, they'll advance to the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays or New York Yankees , beginning Sunday.)
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It starts with Mize.
"I don't fear that," Mize said. "I look forward to it."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize ready for ALDS Game 4 in MLB playoffs
