The Detroit Tigers will send right-hander Jack Flaherty to the mound in the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday afternoon. Flaherty, who has been dealing with a lower back injury, will make his first start since June 27.
Flaherty received a pain-killing injection after his last outing against the Los Angeles Angels, where he gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings. Prior to the injury, Flaherty had been pitching at an All-Star level, with a 5-5 record and a 3.24 ERA. He signed a one-year contract with the Tigers in the offseason and could be a valuable trade chip if he can prove he is healthy.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch expressed confidence in Flaherty’s recovery, stating that his latest bullpen session was “very encouraging.” While Hinch did not provide a specific pitch count for Flaherty, the right-hander has not completed the sixth inning in a start since May 30.
In his career, Flaherty has faced the Guardians four times and is 0-2 with a 3.27 ERA. Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez has had success against Flaherty, hitting two home runs in their matchups.
On the other side, the Guardians will start right-hander Spencer Howard, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants last week. Howard, 27, has a 1-1 record with a 5.63 ERA this season and will be making his debut for Cleveland.
The Tigers can win the series with a victory on Thursday, as they claimed a 5-4 win in the previous game. Tigers rookie Colt Keith extended his hitting streak to eight games, while All-Star center fielder Riley Greene made a spectacular diving catch in the eighth inning.
Overall, Thursday’s matchup between the Tigers and Guardians promises to be an exciting one, with Flaherty looking to make a strong return from his injury and Howard hoping to make a good first impression with his new team. Fans can expect a competitive game as both teams look to secure a win in the series finale.
