Padres trade deadline pickup Casey Mize suffers ankle sprain in unlucky way

Padres trade deadline pickup Casey Mize suffers ankle sprain in unlucky way originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Diego Padres needed to upgrade their rotation at the 2026 MLB trade deadline if they wanted to seriously contend for a postseason spot.

They did just that by adding Robbie Ray from the NL West rival San Francisco Giants and Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. Both moves have worked thus far, but unfortunately, during Mize's latest start, he suffered an injury.

Kyle Glaser of MLB.com revealed how Mize suffered his ankle sprain, revealing the brutally unlucky circumstances that led to his injury. Mize slipped while walking down the dugout steps, spraining his ankle in the process.

"Mize suffered a right ankle sprain after he slipped walking down the dugout steps between the second and third innings of the Padres' 7-5 win over the Twins on Saturday night," Glaser writes.

While he sustained the injury between the second and third innings, he did actually try to pitch in the third, recording two more outs before coming out of the game.

After the game, Mize's ankle was "swollen," and the new Padres' right-handed starter was "limping slightly," according to Glaser.

Mize has a 7.00 ERA for the Padres since coming over in a trade across his four starts and 18 innings pitched. He's struggled a bit for San Diego.

MORE: Former MLB pitcher critiques Pirates ace Paul Skenes' mechanics amid recent struggles

But considering the potential he showed with Detroit this season, with a 2.70 ERA in 86.2 innings pitched, the Padres shouldn't panic just yet.

This injury does complicate things. If his ankle isn't healed for his next start, or his struggles on the mound continue, the big trade for the All-Star right-hander might look like a mistake for A.J. Preller.

But for now, the only thing that matters is that Mize heals from a brutally unlucky injury he sustained after slipping while walking into the dugout from the field.

• Mariners’ Cal Raleigh on track to hit fewest HR after 60+ homer season in MLB history
• Dodgers and Mets predicted to be only teams active in Tarik Skubal’s free agent market
• Mets have very fun Kodai Senga question to answer this season
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could make all-time terrible MLB HR history for Blue Jays
• Astros' Yordan Alvarez has chance to join two MLB legends with very rare history