The Los Angeles Dodgers fortified their starting rotation at the trade deadline by acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. The vision was to have Flaherty form a strong trio alongside Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the postseason.
But as the Dodgers are due to begin a 12th consecutive appearance in the playoffs, they are without Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Clayton Kershaw.
The Dodgers’ rotation for the National League Division Series is going to consist of Flaherty, Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Gavin Stone.
While an official decision has not been made, manager Dave Roberts indicated the team is leaning toward Flaherty being the Dodgers Game 1 starter, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
Before Saturday’s game, Roberts said his best guess at the moment is that Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 next Saturday.
Flaherty is scheduled to pitch to Minor League batters during a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Monday. It’s otherwise a planned off day for the Dodgers coming out of the regular season.
That would leave Flaherty in line to start Game 1 of the NLDS on normal rest on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The right-hander last pitched against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 25, throwing 100 pitches over five innings and allowing three runs.
Flaherty went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 10 starts after being traded to his hometown Dodgers.
Why Jack Flaherty for Dodgers Game 1 starter?
There had been some thought he Dodgers’ starter in Game 1 of the NLDS would be Yamamoto due to the team’s commitment to keeping him on a routine of pitching on at least five days’ rest.
Flaherty taking the ball in the opener of the NLDS would allow him to also pitch in a potential Game 5 on five days’ rest. But the likely deciding factor is the possibility of having Flaherty start on short rest if the Dodgers are facing elimination in Game 4.
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