In a vertical die casting machine of the type wherein molten metal contained in a vertical casting sleeve located beneath a stationary platen is cast into a die cavity defined between a stationary die and a movable die urged against the stationary die, the casting sleeve is divided into an upper and a lower part. The upper casting sleeve is secured to the stationary platen in communication with the die cavity. The lower casting sleeve is normally held in vertical alignment with the upper casting sleeve but is moved to a position lateral to the stationary platen for receiving the molten metal. When the lower casting sleeve is returned to the normal vertical position it is urged against the upper casting sleeve and molten metal in the lower casting sleeve is teemed and cast into the die cavity by operating an injection plunger.