The Future Is Here: Tigers Call Up Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Isaac Paredes

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With the season beginning to spiral and their rotation in shambles, the Tigers are calling down to Toledo for help. 

General manager Al Avila announced Monday that Detroit is calling up Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Isaac Paredes for this week's series against the White Sox. Skubal will start Tuesday and Mize will start Wednesday. In a corresponding move, Detroit designated infielder Dawel Lugo for assignment.

Mize is the top right-handed pitching prospect in baseball and the No. 2 prospect in the Tigers' organization after Spencer Torkelson, according to MLB Pipeline. Skubal ranks No. 5 among left-handed pitching prospects and No. 5 overall for the Tigers. Paredes ranks No. 6. 

Tigers Dominate MLB's Top-100 Prospects
Mize, 23, went first overall in 2018. All he's done since then is dominate the minors. He was equally impressive this year in spring training and summer camp, proving to the Tigers that he's ready to face big-league hitters. Skubal made the same impression this spring. 
Detroit sent Mize to Toledo to start the season with an eye toward building up his arm -- and to avoid burning a year of team control on his contract. By waiting until now to bring him up, the Tigers ensure he won't hit free agency until 2026. 
Al Avila reiterated Friday that Mize needed 'more time' in Toledo. Then the Tigers were swept by the Indians, extending their losing streak to five games, and saw Ivan Nova land on the injured list. That left them with two legitimate starters: Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull.

Mize and Skubal make it four. They join a rotation with the highest ERA (7.46) in the majors and a team falling out of the race in the AL Central. They won't fix that themselves. 

But their arrival is another sign for the Tigers that better days are near.