Jack Flaherty joined the Los Angeles Dodgers at this year’s trade deadline as Major League Baseball’s headline moves for a starting pitcher.
Coming over from the Detroit Tigers, Flaherty has since been a stabilizing force with his new club, going 6-2, with a 3.58 ERA, 4.16 FIP, and a 1.28 WHIP over 10 starts. The Dodgers sorely needed his arm in their rotation, as they force into the postseason as one of the National League’s top-two playoff teams.
His old team saw an opportunity to move him at a time that was optimal for them, capitalizing on Flaherty’s status on an expiring contract following the season. Gaining two prospects in return, the Tigers made the move that was best for them at the time.
The Tigers’ season wasn’t going as well as planned at the time of the trade, but they’ve since turned it around. Given their recent hot streak, they earned their first playoff appearance since 2014 and will play either the Baltimore Orioles or Houston Astros in a best-of-three Wild Card round starting on Tuesday.
“I’m happy for those guys,” Flaherty said. “It was fun playing with them. I love those guys. I still talk to them, and I’m rooting for them. They’ve been absolutely dynamic and fun to watch. And Skubs, hats off to him. That dude is going to win the Cy Young in the AL and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
On Aug. 10, the Tigers were well out of a Wild Card spot, but since then, they’ve held the lowest earned run average as a pitching staff in MLB. Led by the likely American League Cy Young candidate, Tarik Skubal. Flaherty’s former club has the makings of a fun postseason team.
Jack Flaherty and his impact with the Dodgers
Since joining the Dodgers, Flaherty provided them with an arm that has taken the ball whenever call upon. With how many injuries they’ve endured, he’s one of the most valuable pieces to their current rotation.
In his postseason career, Flaherty is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA, 2.97 FIP and a 1.36 WHIP. He’s likely to slot into the first of two playoff games, commanding a role that could see him pitch twice in a series.
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