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Detroit Tigers’ Jack Flaherty ‘enjoyed every second here’

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Detroit Tigers’ Jack Flaherty ‘enjoyed every second here’

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CLEVELAND — Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty is ready for Tuesday’s trade deadline.

He knows what to expect.

He has already been down this path.

“I don’t think I handled it very well last year,” Flaherty said after Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, in which he pitched six innings. “I think after going through the same thing last year, and taking control this time, you control what you can control one day at a time.”

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Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million contract last season, is expected to make his next start Monday against the Guardians at Comerica Park, but the trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, meaning Flaherty may not start again for the Tigers.

The 28-year-old is the best two-month rental starting pitcher on the trade market, a testament to his career renaissance.

He throws like an ace.

The Tigers plan to trade him for prospects.

“The goal is to win games for this team,” Flaherty said. “These guys are awesome. I’ve enjoyed every second of it here. These guys are an unbelievable group. You just have to enjoy it and then try to win games.”

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Flaherty only increased his trade value in Wednesday’s start against the Guardians at Progressive Field, allowing one run (zero earned runs) on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings, throwing 96 pitches.

If this were his final appearance, Flaherty would have been incredible throughout his four months with the Tigers, posting a 2.95 ERA with 19 walks and 133 strikeouts in 106 2/3 innings over 18 starts. His 32% strikeout rate ranked fifth in MLB and second in the American League.

“I hate it for them because they get a lot of questions from family, friends, and they have to answer all those questions,” manager AJ Hinch said. “It takes them away from the competition a little bit, so when you see someone like Jack come out and put in a good performance and look like he’s completely in control of the competition, it’s pretty impressive.”

Last year, Flaherty was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals — the only team he had played for as a professional — to the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline.

The Cardinals acquired infielder Cesar Prieto, right-handed reliever Zack Showalter and left-hander Drew Rom.

Rom, 24, didn’t pitch in the 2024 season due to shoulder surgery, but Prieto, 25, and Showalter, 20, had success for the Cardinals in the minor leagues, with Prieto hitting .302 with 12 homers at Triple-A Memphis and Showalter posting a 2.59 ERA over 31⅓ innings at Low-A Palm Beach.

“I think it’s just experience,” said Flaherty, who had a 6.75 ERA in nine games (including seven starts) with the Orioles after last year’s trade. “Experience is being in a tough situation, being in a lot of different scenarios. I’m just in a better place mentally this year than I was last year, so I’ve done a much better job of taking it one day at a time. I’m focused on winning.”

Many playoff-contending teams need starting pitching help, including the Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, among others.

Flaherty is the best two-month rental pitcher available on the trade market because he adjusted his mechanics and changed his pitching mix upon joining the Tigers on a one-year deal.

“It’s only July,” Flaherty said, “and I have another start in July. I still have two months of the season left, so there’s still a lot of work to do.”

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Riley Greene’s Legs

Before Thursday’s game, Riley Greene, a 23-year-old All-Star outfielder, performed a series of lower-body exercises under the guidance of performance coach Shane Wallen, assistant performance coach Drew Heithoff, head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks and assistant athletic trainer Kelly Rhoades.

The Tigers are paying special attention to Greene’s legs.

“I would say it’s part of the game and you have to accept it,” said Greene, who missed Tuesday’s game to rest his legs. “I can be frustrated about it because that’s who I am. I hate missing games and I hate not being on the field with the guys. But it’s part of the game.”

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Greene didn’t play Tuesday, but he returned to the lineup as the designated hitter Wednesday and Thursday to complete the four-game series against the Guardians. He’s expected to be the designated hitter again for Friday’s series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

He should be ready to start playing in the outfield again for Saturday’s game with left-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound.

Greene, who suffered a stress reaction in his left fibula last season, believes playing center field – as opposed to left field – puts more wear and tear on his legs.

“Yeah, if you just look at the number of carries,” Greene said. “You have to cover more ground (in the middle of the field) and things like that, so I would say yeah, that’s the case.”

MISSING: Tigers’ Riley Greene out Tuesday in Cleveland with leg soreness

After Greene finished the workout, the two performance coaches and two strength and conditioning coaches spent a few minutes on the field discussing Greene’s performance in the drills.

Greene reached the 100-game mark for the first time in a single season in his three-year MLB career on Wednesday, making Thursday his 101st game of 2024.

“I think he’s doing better,” Hinch said of Greene, who is hitting .267 with 17 home runs. “He’s frustrated with his legs not feeling good, and I think that’s impacted his comfort, so it’s more of a mental day for him than a physical day.”

Javier Baez at the ninth hole

Shortstop Javier Baez batted ninth in the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time since Sept. 19, 2017, with the Chicago Cubs. He also batted ninth in Thursday’s lineup.

Báez, 31, is hitting .176 with one home run, eight walks and 49 strikeouts in 63 games.

“There’s no underlying message,” Hinch said. “It’s not a slap in the face to him.”

Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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