Should Detroit Tigers call up MLB’s No. 2 prospect Kevin McGonigle?
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold invites Chris Brown of “Tigers Minor League Report” to debate when the Tigers should call up their No. 1 prospect.
The Detroit Tigers were shut out by the Athletics to wrap up a three-game sweep.Spencer Torkelson hit a ball off the wall for an early triple for the Tigers.Casey Mize was touched for five runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Athletics.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA — Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize has a 7.20 ERA in his last eight starts, following a 2.63 ERA in his first 15 starts that helped him get selected to his first All-Star Game in his five-year MLB career.
This time, Mize failed to complete the fourth inning.
The Tigers lost, 7-0, to the Athletics on Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the finale of the three-game series at Sutter Health Park, dropping their fourth game in a row. The Athletics scored five runs against Mize, who lasted just 3â…“ innings on 78 pitches.
The Tigers (78-57) were swept for the fourth time in the 2025 season, following three-game sweeps by the Los Angeles Dodgers in March and the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates in July.
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The first and second innings haunted Mize.
He needed 31 pitches in a one-run first and 27 pitches in a three-run second. He then threw 12 pitches in the third and eight pitches for one out in the fourth.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead on Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI single off Mize’s full-count fastball in the first inning, set up by Nick Kurtz’s leadoff single and Shea Langeliers’ ensuing walk.
In the third inning, the Athletics extended their advantage to 4-0: Zack Gelof jumped a first-pitch slider for a two-run home run, Langeliers ripped a two-strike fastball for an RBI double, and Brent Rooker cashed in with a two-strike sacrifice fly.
Entering Wednesday, Gelof was hitting .063 with two walks and 19 strikeouts in 10 games. He finally notched his first home run of the season in his 11th game.
Oftentimes, Mize struggled in two-strike situations.
Mize also hurt himself with a crucial throwing error in the fourth inning, as he fielded a weak comebacker from Gelof and sailed the ball past first baseman Spencer Torkelson. The error allowed Brett Harris, who led off the fourth with a double, to score from second, giving the Athletics a 5-0 lead.
The Tigers pulled Mize after he walked Kurtz with one out in the fourth inning, replacing him with right-handed reliever Rafael Montero, who took down 2â…” scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Mize missed bats, but he didn’t locate enough pitches for strikes and allowed hard contact.
He generated 14 whiffs on 43 swings for an impressive 32.6% whiff rate, including seven whiffs with his splitter, but he threw just 62.8% of his pitches for strikes. On 13 balls in play, the Athletics produced an average exit velocity of 90.3 mph.
In 2025, Mize owns a 3.95 ERA in 23 starts.
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Luis Morales dominates
Right-hander Luis Morales is only in the infancy of his career as a big leaguer, making his fourth start in his fifth appearance. The 22-year-old ranks as the Athletics’ No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
He looked even better than advertised.
Morales tossed seven scoreless innings on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, throwing 91 pitches. He bullied the Tigers with fastballs, then mixed in a limited number of sweepers, changeups and sliders.
His fastball averaged 97.1 mph.
The two hits from the Tigers: Torkelson’s triple with one out in the second inning and Dillon Dingler’s single with one out in the fifth inning. In the second, Wenceel Pérez (strikeout) and Zach McKinstry (lineout) stranded Torkelson. In the fifth, Trey Sweeney (flyout) and Colt Keith (lineout) stranded Dingler.
The Tigers collected both walks in the third inning, thanks to Dingler and Gleyber Torres. There were two runners on with two outs, but Kerry Carpenter flew out to end the third.
Morales owns a 1.19 ERA in 22â…” innings in his MLB career.
Drew Sommers struggles again
The Tigers promoted left-handed reliever Drew Sommers on Aug. 22 from Triple-A Toledo. The 25-year-old has struggled in all three appearances, including two against the Athletics.
In Wednesday’s game, Sommers allowed three hits and one walk in the eighth inning. The Athletics took a 7-0 lead with Gelof’s two-run double on the second of two consecutive sinkers from Sommers over the heart of the plate.
After Gelof’s swing, Sommers completed the eighth inning by striking out Kurtz on the three sliders in a row.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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