Can Jack Flaherty Reclaim His Dominance? Tigers Right-Hander Faces Critical Test Against Red Sox

The Detroit Tigers find themselves in a precarious position. After dropping the first two games of a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park, the club sits one game under .500. A sweep would sting, but the bigger concern is the man taking the mound Wednesday afternoon: Jack Flaherty. Under normal circumstances, Flaherty’s recent implosions might trigger a rotation shake-up. But with the Tigers’ starting staff decimated by injuries, the team has no choice but to hand him the ball and hope for a resurrection.

Flaherty (0-2, 5.90 ERA) will make his eighth start of the season on Wednesday, and the stakes could not be higher. He has failed to complete four innings in his last three outings, a stretch that has seen his command vanish and his confidence erode. The right-hander, once a Cy Young contender with the St. Louis Cardinals, now looks like a pitcher searching for answers in a dark room. Let’s break down what has gone wrong, why the Tigers are sticking with him, and what he needs to do to turn the tide against a dangerous Red Sox lineup.

The Mechanics of a Meltdown: Why Flaherty Is Struggling

To understand the magnitude of Flaherty’s slide, you have to look at the raw numbers. In his last three starts, he has recorded just 11 outs combined in the fourth inning. That is not a typo. He has been pulled before reaching the fourth frame in three consecutive outings, a red flag for any starter, let alone one with a 5.90 ERA.

The most alarming performance came on April 20 against these very same Red Sox. Flaherty walked six batters in just 3 1/3 innings, a display of wildness that left the Tigers’ bullpen scrambling. He followed that disaster with a brutal outing in Cincinnati on April 25, where he surrendered six runs and three home runs in only two innings. Then came Friday’s start against Texas: four runs, five hits, three walks, and 3 2/3 innings of labor.

What is causing this? Flaherty’s fastball velocity is still sitting around 93-94 mph, which is respectable but not elite. The real issue is command of his secondary pitches. His slider, once a wipeout weapon, has become a hanging meatball. His changeup lacks the late tumble that made it a swing-and-miss offering. Opponents are teeing off on mistakes in the zone, and Flaherty is falling behind in counts, which forces him to throw fastballs in hittable locations.

• Walk rate: Flaherty is issuing 5.2 walks per nine innings, nearly double his career average.
• Hard-hit rate: Opponents are barreling up his pitches at a 12.3% clip, up from 8.1% in 2023.
• Strikeout rate: Down to 18.4%, a career low for a full season.

These numbers paint a picture of a pitcher who has lost the thread. Flaherty admitted after his last start that the struggles are taking a mental toll. “It’s frustrating,” he said. “You feel like you’re letting everyone down. You have to find a way to snap out of it.” The question is whether that snap can come against a Red Sox lineup that has already seen him at his worst.

Why the Tigers Have No Choice But to Keep Running Flaherty Out There

In a perfect world, the Tigers would option Flaherty to Triple-A Toledo or skip his turn to let him work on mechanics. But this is not a perfect world. The Tigers’ rotation is a MASH unit. Eduardo Rodriguez is on the injured list. Casey Mize is still building back from Tommy John surgery. Matt Manning is dealing with a foot issue. The only reliable arms right now are Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson, and neither can pitch every day.

So the Tigers are stuck. They have to ride with Flaherty and hope that a combination of mechanical adjustments and mental reset can unlock the pitcher who went 11-6 with a 2.75 ERA in 2019. That version of Flaherty was a top-10 Cy Young finisher. This version is a pitcher who cannot get through the fourth inning.

“We believe in Jack,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said this week. “He’s been through tough stretches before. The stuff is still there. It’s about executing when it matters.” Hinch’s faith is admirable, but faith alone does not get outs. Flaherty needs to prove he can pound the strike zone with his fastball early in counts and then put hitters away with his breaking ball. If he cannot, the Tigers will have no choice but to consider a bullpen day or a call-up from the minors.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, are licking their chops. Boston has scored 11 runs in the first two games of this series, and they know Flaherty is vulnerable. Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida are seeing the ball well, and the bottom of the order is grinding out at-bats. If Flaherty cannot command his fastball, the Red Sox will make him pay.

Expert Analysis: What Flaherty Must Do to Survive Wednesday

From a tactical standpoint, Wednesday’s start is a litmus test for Flaherty’s future. He cannot afford another early exit. Here is what I am watching for:

1. First-pitch strike percentage. Flaherty is throwing a first-pitch strike just 57% of the time this season, well below the league average of 62%. When he falls behind, hitters sit on his fastball. He needs to get ahead 0-1 or 0-2 consistently to set up his slider and changeup.

2. Slider location. In his April 20 start against Boston, Flaherty left his slider over the middle of the plate repeatedly. The Red Sox either took it for balls or crushed it. He needs to bury the slider down and in to right-handed hitters or back-foot it to lefties. If he can’t, Boston will feast.

3. Emotional control. Flaherty admitted the mental strain is real. He is a fiery competitor, but that fire can turn into frustration when things go wrong. He needs to channel that energy into execution, not anger. A quick hook from the dugout is not an option. He must pitch deep into the game to save a taxed bullpen.

4. Attack the bottom of the order. The Red Sox lineup is top-heavy. If Flaherty can breeze through the 7-8-9 hitters, he can build momentum. That means no free passes to weaker hitters. He cannot afford to walk the No. 8 hitter, then face the top of the order with runners on.

My prediction? This is a make-or-break start. I expect Flaherty to show signs of life early, perhaps a 1-2-3 first inning. But the real test comes in the third and fourth innings, when he typically runs out of gas. If he can get through five innings with three or fewer runs allowed, that is a win for the Tigers. If he implodes again, the team may have to seriously consider a demotion or a role change.

Conclusion: A Crossroads for Flaherty and the Tigers

Baseball is a cruel sport. One year you are a Cy Young contender, the next you are fighting to keep your rotation spot. That is the reality for Jack Flaherty, who takes the mound Wednesday with his career at a crossroads. The Tigers need him to be the pitcher they thought they were getting when they signed him to a one-year, $14 million deal. The Red Sox need him to be the pitcher he has been the last three weeks.

Something has to give. For Detroit, a sweep would be damaging, but a Flaherty meltdown could be devastating for the club’s morale and its playoff hopes. The season is still young, but the margin for error is shrinking. If Flaherty cannot find his command, his slider, and his confidence against Boston, the Tigers may be forced to make a difficult decision sooner rather than later.

Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park is more than just a game. It is a redemption opportunity for a pitcher who was once one of the best in the game. The question is: Can Jack Flaherty seize it? Or will he be swept away by the same demons that have haunted him all month? We are about to find out.

Source: Based on news from Deadspin.

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