by Megan Garcia
Jack Flaherty will make his second start in the Fall Classic on Wednesday to potentially seal the Dodgers’ World Series fate with a 3–1 series lead. They’ll need him to look like the version that pitched in Game 1 as the Yankees seek to build momentum.
By facing the Yankees twice in less than a week, it presents a set of advantages and disadvantages for him, said manager Dave Roberts.
“He gets to see in real time how they’re responding to his pitches,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The disadvantage is they can see and appreciate the ball coming out of his hand and all of his different pitches. Then it just comes down to execution and how you sequence your pitches. Right now it’s sort of an open book.”
Flaherty gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings while striking out six hitters in Game 1.
This is the second time in the postseason that Flaherty has faced an opponent twice in a series. He pitched one of the all-time best Dodger starts in a National League Championship Series when he pitched seven shutout innings against the Mets in Game 1. However, he allowed eight runs in three innings in Game 5.
During the regular season, Flaherty faced seven teams at least twice. In second games, he had a 1.58 ERA.
“I think in Game 5 he was under the weather. I know he was, he was under the weather. He was kind of on day three of something, so he just didn’t have the strength. Certainly the stuff speaks to that,” said manager Dave Roberts. “In Game 1 (of the World Series) he was rested and felt good and came out and threw a good ballgame. Today it’s regular rest. He’s in good spirits, very focused. He feels good health-wise. We’ll see how it goes, but I expect him to pitch well tonight.”
In Game 1 of the World Series, his four-seamer velocity was back up to norm. It was down 2 mph in Game 5 of the NLCS.
His curveball recorded a 43% CSW rate (called strikes plus whiff) in Game 1 of the World Series with 12 swings and misses. In Game 5 of the NLCS, it had a 10% CSW rate without a whiff.
But with his already one successful start against the Yankees, Flaherty has a layout for his game plan in Game 5. The last Game 5 he pitches he admitted that things may have sped up on him.
“Just sticking to what we do and being able to make sure we don’t try to do too much and make sure that we can slow the game down a little bit,” Flaherty said. “Just make sure we take things one pitch at a time. Kind of take that same mindset from the first game and go into it but be able to make adjustments on the fly.”
The Dodgers managed to stay away from six relievers in Game 5 of the World Series. Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Alex Vesia, Brusdar Graterol and Anthony Banda did not pitch. Ryan Brasier warmed up but never came into the game.
That puts the Dodgers in a good spot for Wednesday night.
“You just want to pick up after the next guy. If someone has a rough night, then the next guy is going to pick you up. That goes for everything in this game.” Flaherty said.
World Series: Jack Flaherty gets a second helping was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.