The Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash at the trade deadline by acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers to solidify their rotation that had been devastated by injuries.
At the time of the trade, Flaherty was 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in 18 starts for the Tigers. He additionally had a 32% strikeout rate.
With the Dodgers, Flaherty went 6-2 but saw his other numbers regress, posting a 3.58 ERA, 4.16 FIP and 1.28 WHIP across 10 starts while his strikeout rate dropped to 26%.
There was some concerns about Flaherty’s back before the trade, but he doesn’t attribute his decrease in production to that. Instead, the right-hander believes he’s been a victim of trying to impress on a new club.
“I felt great,” Flaherty said. “We had the hiccup in the middle of the year there, and the Tigers staff did an amazing job of giving me the time I needed without putting me on the IL. They navigated through maybe like a two-week stint there where I was dealing with some things and pitched through some pain, but since then I’ve been great.
“Whatever the reports were, were the reports. But I’ve been great. I’ve been healthy. Nothing has affected my performance.
“I think I’ve just been trying to do a little too much. And just from here going forward, don’t try to be perfect and go out and pitch my game and let the results happen. Focus on the process and the days in between and making sure that I’m just mentally locked in and focused, not trying to do too much.”
While Flaherty has still been solid, the Dodgers need him to get back to the ace level he was at with the Tigers. They hope that starts as they hand him the ball against the New York Mets in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
In his first postseason outing for the Dodgers, Flaherty went 5.1 innings against the San Diego Padres while allowing four runs on five hits.
Jack Flaherty looked forward to Dodgers postseason
Flaherty, a native of Burbank, Calif. grew up as a Dodgers fan and went to games at Dodger Stadium throughout his life. Now getting to pitch for his hometown club, Flaherty has been trying to enjoy the moment.
“Being from here, growing up here, coming to games here. But it’s different being able to be a part of it and be on this side of things,” he said before pitching in the NL Division Series.
“I’ve been here for a playoff game with St. Louis, but it will be on this side. And to be a part over it here is different. It’s just a lot of fun at the end of the day. I was looking back, like little young me, if I was to tell myself this, what would like 8-year-old me say? It would be pretty cool. So I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
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