After losing in the American League Division Series to the Cleveland Guardians, the Detroit Tigers looked to add to their already star-studded pitching crew that was fifth in batting average allowed. Already boasting arguably the top pitcher in Tarik Skubal, the Tigers struck gold by re-signing pitcher Jack Flaherty in 2024, after initially trading him to the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer. He’s been incredible.
Jack Flaherty’s Return To Detroit Tigers Has Been Magical
Flaherty has been instrumental to the Tigers’ success. The Tigers currently hold a 15-10 record, which is the best in the AL Central Division and tied for the best in the AL overall as of April 24th. Through the early part of the season, he has 34 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched with just eight runs allowed.
In each of his five starts, he’s had at least four strikeouts. His 2.63 ERA ranks him among the top 20 pitchers in the league, and his strikeout total places him among the top 15. Despite the Tigers’ most recent 2-0 loss to the San Diego Padres, Flaherty delivered an outstanding performance. He showcased his effectiveness with nine strikeouts in six innings pitched, while allowing just two runs without issuing a walk.
Tarik Skubal & Jack Flaherty Are Lethal 1-2 For Tigers
The Tigers’ devastating pitching starting combo of Skubal and Flaherty makes for one of the scariest in the league, causing batters to think twice when trying to swing at their superb pitches. Flaherty is one of four MLB players so far this season with 30+ strikeouts with five or fewer starts, with an ERA of under 2.7, and at 11+ strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
The others are Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LA Dodgers), Max Meyer (Miami Marlins), and Logan Gilbert (Seattle Mariners). Flaherty’s impact has helped provide a stable pitching rotation for the Tigers as their second starting pitcher behind the phenom Skubal. Flaherty may not be the wind-breaking thrower that Skubal is, but he gives them a veteran presence as someone who has a championship pedigree, having helped the Dodgers win the World Series last year over the New York Yankees in five games.
Flaherty was crucial in the Dodgers’ Game 1 6-3 victory of that World Series, where he had a five-inning shutout on a Yankees team that led the league in home runs last year, which included Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton, also known as “Playoff G.”
There’s still a long way to go in the regular season, but if the Tigers’ dynamic pitching duo of Flaherty and Skubal keep striking out batters, they will be dangerous come playoff time.
