Padres' Casey Mize exits with ankle sprain

Casey Mize exited Saturday’s Padres-Twins game in the third inning after appearing to injure his lower body, with trainer involvement twice and the team later confirming concern over an ankle issue. He left the mound after a slow stretch of his usage, with velocity drops across his sinker, fastball, and breaking balls and a noticeable dip from the early innings to the third. The matchup saw the Twins jump ahead with multiple home runs early as Mize’s velocity lagged behind his season average, hinting at lingering or new mechanics issues. San Diego had acquired Mize at the trade deadline as pitching depth, and his early-season track record included prior adductor injuries with Detroit, raising questions about his durability and future role. If Mize needs another stint on the injured list, internal options like Joe Musgrove returning from rehab and other depth pieces could influence the Padres’ rotation going forward. Updates on his injury status and tests were expected as the team evaluates next steps.