Casey Mize is quickly silencing Padres doubters after nightmare first impression

Casey Mize’s Padres debut was a complete disaster. Many fans were hoping this wouldn’t be the beginning of a trade that had gone sour. The right-hander arrived as one of A.J. Preller’s biggest trade deadline additions and promptly allowed nine hits, three walks and eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against Arizona. 

When a rental starter costs two pitching prospects and immediately produces the worst outing of his career, Padres fans are allowed to be irritated. Mize has spent his next two starts making that debut look like it was merely one bad night.

After settling down with six innings of two-run ball against Milwaukee, Mize took the mound in Cleveland and delivered his first truly convincing performance for the Friars. He held the Guardians scoreless for six innings, surrendered only three hits and needed 86 pitches to finish the job in San Diego’s 5-0 victory.

That’s two consecutive quality starts for Mize. But more importantly, that’s a pitcher beginning to look like the version the Padres thought they acquired.

The Padres need this version of Casey Mize for their playoff push

Mize controlled Cleveland without overpowering them. He only struck out three, worked around traffic and let the defense do work behind him. It works just as fine. The Padres traded for a 29-year-old former No. 1 overall pick who was supposed to provide solid innings during a playoff race. That’s it.

The response matters most of all because Mize’s first impression carried more weight than a normal ugly debut.He posted a 2.70 ERA with 85 strikeouts and only 19 walks across 16 starts for Detroit. Those numbers sold the idea that the Padres were getting a steady mid-rotation starter at the peak of his career. So of course they were shook when the D-backs knocked him around like batting practice.

We don’t need to be sold on what two good outings mean. Mize remains a pending free agent, and the Padres made this trade for a postseason run. His final grade will depend on whether he can keep taking the ball, control innings and prevent the rotation from having to use the bullpen as a crutch.

The Arizona debacle still happened, and nobody needs to pretend otherwise. It just looks considerably smaller now. If Mize continues pitching this way, we’ll remember that debut as an ugly introduction followed by a very short apology.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow