Tigers Drop Close Contest to Pirates as Casey Mize Works Through Struggles

The Detroit Tigers fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 in a tightly contested matchup at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Friday. With this loss, the Tigers’ Grapefruit League record now sits at 4-11, including four ties, as they continue to navigate the challenges of spring training.

Detroit faced off against right-hander Mike Clevinger, who was once a reliable arm in the Cleveland Guardians’ rotation. Now on a minor-league contract with the Pirates, Clevinger showcased flashes of his former self, allowing just one hit while issuing four walks and striking out five over 4⅓ innings. The lone hit against him came from Wenceel Pérez, who recorded an infield single in the fifth inning. Following Pérez’s hit, the Tigers loaded the bases after walks from Colt Keith and Jace Jung.

Taking advantage of the pitching change, Parker Meadows delivered a crucial two-run single into center field, narrowing the Tigers’ deficit to 6-2. The hit was a much-needed boost for Meadows as he vies for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

On the mound for the Tigers, Casey Mize made his fourth appearance of the spring but struggled significantly. The right-hander allowed six runs on six hits and four walks, striking out two over three-plus innings while throwing 67 pitches. Mize’s mechanics have been off, a concern he acknowledged while looking forward to discussions with pitching coach Robin Lund and assistant Chris Fetter to rectify his timing issues.

“My mechanics are off. Something is out of whack,” Mize stated. “I just feel like my timing is still off. I’ve got to figure that out.” His struggles were evident as he issued four walks, including three in a difficult stretch during the second inning, leading to a 1-0 deficit after Jake Mangum walked with the bases loaded.

The Pirates capitalized on Mize’s woes in the third inning when Jhostynxon Garcia launched a two-run home run, registering an impressive exit velocity of 108.5 mph. Mize’s outing ended after he allowed back-to-back singles to Mangum and Tyler Callihan in the fourth inning.

Despite the late-game surge where the Tigers scored three runs in the seventh inning—benefiting from defensive errors by the Pirates—Detroit could not overcome the early deficit. Woody Hadeen, Seth Stephenson, and Jack Penney loaded the bases, allowing the Tigers to plate runs on a wild pitch and a fielding miscue.

First baseman Spencer Torkelson and left fielder Riley Greene both struggled at the plate, going 0-for-3 and dropping their batting averages to .160 and .208, respectively. Top prospect Kevin McGonigle also had a quiet day, going 0-for-2 with a walk, bringing his average to .280.

In relief of Mize, Brenan Hanifee faced a challenging situation with runners on the corners and one out, striking out MLB’s No. 1 prospect, Konnor Griffin, but later allowed an infield single that added to Mize’s run count. Hanifee’s matchup against left-handed hitters, particularly Endy Rodríguez, proved costly as Rodríguez delivered an RBI single that extended the Pirates’ lead to 6-0.

Despite the setbacks, the Tigers look to regroup as they prepare to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. With two more spring training games ahead, Mize remains focused on refining his mechanics before the regular season kicks off against the Diamondbacks.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.