Tigers beat Rays 9-3 on June 22, 2025, with late homers from Pérez & Meadows. But the win is overshadowed by an injury to starter Casey Mize. Get the full story.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the kind of win that should have been a pure celebration. The Detroit Tigers snapped a frustrating three-game skid Sunday with a ninth-inning offensive explosion, burying the Rays 9-3. But as the dugout cleared, the joy was tempered by a single, nagging question: What's wrong with Casey Mize?
With a 49-30 record, the Tigers still own the best record in all of baseball, a testament to their resilience even on difficult days.
For six innings, it was a tense pitcher's duel. Casey Mize was brilliant, holding Tampa Bay to just one run. But after throwing his 80th pitch in the sixth, discomfort sent him to the dugout with the training staff, casting a pall over the afternoon. The Tigers' bats, however, refused to let his effort go to waste. Wenceel Pérez broke the 1-1 tie with a clutch two-run homer in the seventh. The floodgates truly opened in the ninth, with RBI singles from Spencer Torkelson and Pérez setting the stage for a towering three-run blast by Parker Meadows that sealed the much-needed victory.
The sight of A.J. Hinch and the trainers walking to the mound is never what you want to see, especially when it's for Casey Mize. Having just returned from a hamstring issue, this latest apparent injury is a major concern. Mize was sharp and efficient before his exit, looking every bit the part of a top-of-the-rotation arm. The team has yet to release details on the nature or severity of the injury, leaving fans and the front office in a state of anxious limbo. His health is paramount to the team's championship aspirations.
If there's a silver lining to a day clouded by injury, it's the state of the organization's health. Bleacher Report just reaffirmed that the Tigers boast a top-five farm system in all of baseball. Even after graduating key players like Jackson Jobe and Jace Jung, the pipeline is flush with talent. Names like Max Clark, Kevin McGonigle, and Bryce Rainer represent the next wave, ensuring that the Tigers are built not just for today, but for a long window of contention. This depth provides crucial insurance and trade capital as the season progresses.
Owning the best record in baseball at this point in the season doesn't just mean winning games; it means getting noticed. The incredible performance of this young Tigers core has put the league on alert, and it's looking increasingly likely that Detroit will be heavily represented at the 2025 All-Star Game. Don't be surprised to see multiple Tigers voted in as starters, a well-deserved honor for a team that has been the talk of baseball all year long.
So today, we celebrate a gutsy win while anxiously awaiting news on Casey Mize. His health is the immediate priority. But looking at the bigger picture—the offensive firepower, the league's best record, and a treasure trove of prospects—it's clear this Tigers team is built to withstand adversity. The next 24 hours will be telling, but the foundation for a special season remains firmly in place.
