Padres’ Casey Mize Exits Saturday’s Game in Concerning Development

Right-hander Casey Mize of the San Diego Padres has exited the team's game against the Minnesota Twins. Mize left the game with the athletic trainer after throwing the slowest fastball of his career.

Mize dealt with an adductor injury earlier this season while with the Detroit Tigers.

Casey Mize, who dealt with an adductor injury earlier this season with the Tigers, exited tonight's game alongside a team athletic trainer. His final inning included an 88.4 mph sinker, the slowest fastball of his career.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) August 23, 2026

The Padres announced an update on Mize, saying that he left the game with a right ankle sprain.

Update from the Padres clubhouse: RHP Casey Mize left today’s game with a right ankle sprain.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 23, 2026

Before leaving the game, Mize had gone 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Mize also gave up three home runs to the Twins, showing some signs of concern.

This is certainly something to watch moving forward for the Padres. Mize was one of the big additions for the team at the trade deadline, and he had been pitching well over his last two starts.

Prior to this outing, Mize had only allowed two runs over his last 12 innings. The Padres had been very happy with his starts of late, following a disastrous debut with San Diego, where he allowed eight runs over 3.1 innings.

What Does the Padres Starting Rotation Look Like Without Mize?

The severity of Mize's injury remains unclear if he will be forced to miss any time. But it would be a major blow to the starting rotation if so.

Mize was acquired at the trade deadline to help bolster the depth of the Padres rotation, so this would be a worrisome injury.

Without Mize, the Padres still have multiple options to use going forward. Here is how the starting group could look if Mize has to be out due to an injury.

RHP Michael King
LHP Robbie Ray
RHP Walker Buehler
RHP Randy Vásquez

San Diego could turn back to right-hander Griffin Canning to reclaim his spot in the rotation. Canning has made 21 appearances (11 starts) for the Padres this year, posting a 6.50 ERA.

Another option could be to use left-hander Wandy Peralta as an opener, which the team has done a few times. Peralta has appeared in 54 games (five starts), recording a 3.48 ERA.

San Diego should be getting back right-hander Joe Musgrove in the coming weeks, which could be an option too. But Musgrove did suffer a setback in his recovery, pushing his return even further out.

The same goes for Nick Pivetta, with the veteran currently shut down from throwing after suffering a setback. But the Padres are hopeful that both Musgrove and Pivetta can return in the next few weeks to bolster the pitching staff.

Overall, the Padres do have some options to replace Mize, but it's all a wait-and-see approach now. San Diego can only hope that they dodged a bullet with the right-hander and that he won't be forced to miss any time.

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