Tigers SP Casey Mize accomplishes rare feat in win over Yankees

Following a filthy final pitch Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Casey Mize walked off the mound and maintained his pace to the visitor's dugout. The Detroit Tigers' starting pitcher didn't appear to be bothered by the seventh-inning strike-call challenge by New York Yankees second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera.

He walked with a confident stride.

The ruling wasn't close, capping Mize's career-best 10 strikeout performance, leading the Tigers to a series-opening 7-3 victory. 

Improving to 3-5, Mize yielded just one hit in seven shutout innings. He didn't issue a walk. The 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick continues to develop into one of the Tigers' most consistent hurlers.

Mize became the third starting pitcher in MLB history to hold the Yankees to one run or fewer with at least 10 strikeouts and zero walks. Here are the other two pitchers and the date they accomplished the feat:

Player, Date

• Chris Sale (White Sox), May 22, 2014
• Pedro Martínez (Red Sox), Sept. 10, 1999

During his final at-bat against Mize on Monday, Cabrera looked disoriented. Three pitches, two four-seam fastballs and an 81-mph slurve, left the second baseman dazed and confused.

Building off his All-Star appearance last season, could Mize become the Tigers' new ace if two-time Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal ends up getting traded before the deadline?

Or is Mize simply improving his trade stock?

Is Tigers' Casey Mize improving trade stock?

The only hit Mize yielded Monday, a Spencer Jones bloop double, recorded an exit velocity of 82 mph and registered a .205 xBA. Despite his record, Mize lowered his earned-run average to 2.63. 

Mize and Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler remain the lone AL starters with an ERA and FIP below 2.75.  

Monday's effort proved to be the longest start of Mize's career, delivering 16 first-pitch strikes to 16 of 22 opponents. Finishing with 10 strikeouts for the third time in his five-year career, Mize struck out five of the final six batters he faced. 

The hobbled Yankees (48-36), playing without Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, have lost five straight. They have been held to three or fewer hits in four consecutive outings for the first time in franchise history, batting .098.

Whether he caught the Yankees at the right time or not, Mize continues to build his portfolio after an uneven, injury-plagued career start.

Is he enhancing his resume to move up the rotational ladder with the Tigers (36-49)?

Or for a new company?

More MLB news: 

• Esmerlyn Valdez providing Pirates with progressive offensive spark
• Red Sox's Sonny Gray earns 2,000th MLB strikeout, stifles Yankees, loses no-hit bid
• Rangers OF Wyatt Langford's MLB progression stalled again by injury
• Mets' Bo Bichette still bothered by botched beginning