The Arizona Diamondbacks remain within striking distance of a National League Wild Card spot. They are 45-46 and sit 4.5 games behind the Miami Marlins. The MLB trade deadline is now less than a month away. That leaves Arizona with an important decision.

If the Diamondbacks cannot gain ground over the next few weeks, they may have to consider buying more carefully than originally expected.

The rotation has become the biggest question.

Eduardo Rodríguez has been their ace while Merrill Kelly has been inconsistent, and Zac Gallen has struggled throughout the season.

The injuries have made the situation even more difficult. Corbin Burnes remains sidelined. Michael Soroka and Ryne Nelson are also on the Injured List.

Those absences have forced Arizona to lean on younger pitchers. José Cabrera has already been promoted and he’s made three starts. Mitch Bratt also received an opportunity. He made a three-inning spot start against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 24.

Brandon Pfaadt has returned to the rotation, helping stabilize it. Still, Arizona could use another dependable starter.

In this case, Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize could be an ideal fit.

Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan from ESPN recently evaluated the top trade candidates across MLB.

They assigned Mize a 60% chance of being traded before the deadline.

That makes him one of the most realistic starting pitchers who could become available.

McDaniel and Passan explained why teams would pursue him. They pointed to his most recent outing against the New York Yankees, when he threw seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball with 10 strikeouts.

McDaniel and Passan also noted that while Mize may not overpower hitters with elite velocity or eye-popping stuff, the results have still been outstanding.

He is striking out more than one batter per inning. He is allowing fewer than one baserunner per inning. His contract also increases his value.

The remaining salary on his deal is less than $2 million for the rest of the season. That makes him affordable for contenders looking to strengthen their rotations.

“While Mize has twice hit the injured list with a strained groin, his most recent start illustrates why he’ll be in high demand if Detroit decides to punt. He threw seven scoreless innings and allowed one hit while striking out 10 Yankees,” McDaniel and Passan wrote.

“Mize isn’t popping any models with his stuff, but he’s striking out more than a batter an inning, he’s allowing less than a baserunner an inning, and his contract will be barely $2 million for the remainder of the season.”

Mize is 4-5 with a 2.64 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 71.2 innings over 13 starts this season. He has 72 strikeouts against 16 walks.

Arizona has shown it can remain competitive despite the injuries throughout its rotation.

Adding another proven starter would lessen the workload on the younger pitchers while providing more stability behind Rodríguez. Mize fits that profile. He attacks hitters with confidence and works efficiently.

He has developed into a dependable starter who remains composed under pressure. He also has experience adjusting throughout games and making changes from one outing to the next.

Those qualities are valuable for any team with postseason aspirations.

Mize has earned a reputation for competing every time he takes the mound and giving his team a chance to win. His preparation and professionalism have also drawn praise throughout his career.

For a Diamondbacks team trying to remain in the postseason race while navigating multiple pitching injuries, adding a starter with Mize’s reliability and experience could make a meaningful difference during the second half of the season.

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