Oakland: On Monday, Jack Flaherty’s final scheduled start had already ended before it had started. Instead, he waited for a trade that seemed inevitable while sitting in the dugout at Comerica Park. Flaherty was the most attractive trade candidate in a trade deadline that ultimately included few impact-level stars. They wanted to give their 28-year-old right-hander more time before the Los Angeles Dodgers made their move to acquire him, which happened just minutes before the deadline on Tuesday. It would not matter if he started in July; what matters is that they want him to start in October.
Thus, it had been ten days since Flaherty’s last pitch when he took the mound on Saturday to make his debut with his new team. He did not yell, only smacked his glove as he came off the mound.
The time off, Flaherty said, “felt so long.”
The wait was worthwhile for this. In the midst of a breakout season, Flaherty was pitching in meaningful games with bigger goals in mind. Despite their difficulties over the past two months, the Dodgers are now in a serious division race as August approaches.
It is evident from that stretch how much they depend on Flaherty. During his debut, Flaherty demonstrated why they went for him by pitching six shutout innings. The Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics 10-0 to win their first baseball game since Flaherty was wearing a Detroit Tigers uniform.
He allowed soft singles to the first two batters he faced before steadying himself for a scoreless first inning. After a leadoff single in the second, he’d retire 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, mixing in his curveball effectively to lefties and his slider well to righties. The trouble he faced in the sixth threatened to spiral and put a damper on whatever goodwill his debut could bring.
With all that has gone wrong for the Dodgers over the past two months, it seemed as though calamity was just around the corner when Cavan Biggio flipped to Flaherty covering first base. The next paper cut was indicated by a bloop single. With just a two-run advantage, a walk to Brent Rooker loaded the bases.
Instead, Flaherty allowed the night to end on good terms.
“Just excited to be here and help the team win.” Jack Flaherty reflects on his Dodgers debut. pic.twitter.com/e3diKbbGc9
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 4, 2024
“You learn what they’re made of pretty quick,” catcher Will Smith said.
Dave Roberts studied his new acquisition and let him figure things out on his own, perched amidst the Oakland Coliseum crowd.
“I need to learn him,” Roberts said. That will matter more in two months than it did Saturday night.
Kiké Hernández was hit with a ground ball by Shea Langeliers, which Flaherty got him to hit for the first out. Then, for his seventh strikeout of the evening, he got Seth Brown to wave over a curveball in the dirt. Although Abraham Toro struck Flaherty’s first pitch slider hard, it fell on the ground and directly at Nick Ahmed, shortstop. Manager Flaherty was relieved that he did not storm off the mound.
“I liked that,” Roberts said. “Because that tells me there might be some more in there.”
Thus concluded Flaherty’s debut and the Dodgers’ only other strong outing in the 38 days since Gavin Stone shut out the Chicago Cubs in a full game on June 26. Since then, their starting pitchers have been a complete mess, coming into the game with a 5.88 ERA (second-worst) in 127 innings (worst) pitched. A rotation in upheaval, a weary bullpen and a lineup without Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and others in it have presented a dismal combination for a team with hopes far higher than this.
The fact that Flaherty is the Dodgers’ most significant addition to help solve their problems this week has prolonged the wait for his debut.
The Dodgers recently received more positive news regarding their prospects for the last two months of the season.
At Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the bullpen mound and threw 20 pitches in his first outing since he injured his rotator cuff in June. Roberts even gave himself permission to create an ambiguous return date when he stated, “We are all trying to get him back at some point in September.” By then, their bullpen might be replenished, according to Roberts, who mentioned Ryan Brasier and Michael Grove could be back next week.
As he recovers swiftly from his fractured left hand, Mookie Betts might make a quick comeback during the upcoming road trip. Muncy’s strained oblique seems to be feeling better after visiting a chiropractor, so the third baseman can now begin to increase his swinging intensity. This next week, both Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman, deadline additions, will see live pitching at Dodger Stadium. Assignments for rehab may come next.
“I’m excited to potentially get some guys back,” Roberts said, before acknowledging the reality of the last few months. “We’ll see.”
That wait has felt long, too.
(Photo: Robert Edwards / USA Today
