The News' Tony Paul gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 5-2 loss to the Braves on Tuesday:
Credit to the Tigers' bullpen for being summoned hastily after the third-inning groin injury to starting pitcher Casey Mize and giving manager AJ Hinch some mostly decent innings. They might've just helped protect the bullpen as best they could for the rest of the three-game series.
Brant Hurter was excellent, throwing 2.2 innings of hitless baseball with a strikeout after Mize went out with the injury while fielding a groundball. Hurter threw 30 pitches, 20 for strikes, and now has a 1.98 ERA with a WHIP below 1.00 for the season. The only runner who reached against him reached on his own throwing error.
Burch Smith followed and while he gave up a run on a couple two-out hits in the seventh inning — the first run he's allowed in three outings with the Tigers, after signing as a free agent in December — he gave Hinch some mileage out of the bullpen. Tyler Holton worked the eighth inning, and it didn't go well, again.
The Tigers hope they don't need much more relief help the rest of this series, with their horses, Tarik Skubal and Framber, scheduled to start Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Javy Báez was carted off from tonight's game after this awkward slide into first basePrayers up 🙏 pic.twitter.com/G6AAVQ26pS
With a payroll of more than $200 million, the Tigers entered the 2026 season as the clear-cut favorites in the American League Central. But as is the case with life, few things are ever guaranteed. We talked at length about what may derail Detroit this season, and the consensus response was key injuries.
The Tigers fell back to .500 on Tuesday night (15-15), and their depth appears about to be tested, with both center fielder/shortstop Javier Báez (leg) and Casey Mize (groin) leaving Tuesday night's game against the Braves.
We don't know the exact extent of the injuries yet, but the Báez one, on an awkward slide into first, looked bad. As for the Tigers' rotation, it's already is down Justin Verlander, who's made just one start, and would really be dealt a blow if Mize misses any length of time, and he's emerged as one of the better No. 2/3 starters in the league.
Casey Mize left tonight's game after making the play at firstHope he's okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/l1lP1s9MjM
▶ Wenceel Perez (2) — He came into the game after the Baez injury and broke up the shutout with a long, two-run homer to center in the ninth inning. He has five hits in 43 at-bats this season, two of them homers.
▶ Kevin McGonigle (9) — In the eighth inning, the rookie extended his hit streak to 12 games and his on-base streak to 25 starts, legging out an infield single after he had just fouled a ball of his leg. Tough kid.
▶ Game 31: Tigers at Braves, 7:15 Wednesday, Detroit SportsNet, 97.1
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Tigers recap, Game 30: One thing I loved, one thing I didn't