Jack Flaherty seeks to capitalize on his recent success as the Detroit Tigers host the Kansas City Royals in the final game of a three-game series on March 15, 2024. Flaherty’s last outing alleviated prior concerns regarding his performance, as he delivered a stellar seven-inning display against the Houston Astros, allowing no runs and striking out nine batters.
In his previous two starts, Flaherty had struggled significantly, surrendering a combined total of ten earned runs over nine innings. His performance against Houston marked a pivotal turnaround. “Just continue to execute pitches,” Flaherty stated after his dominant display. “The more you execute, the more things are going to happen.” He emphasized the importance of focusing on the fundamentals, particularly after escaping a bases-loaded situation in the first inning.
As a former key member of the Los Angeles Dodgers during their World Series campaign last year, the Tigers acquired Flaherty at the trade deadline, and he re-signed as a free agent during the offseason. Currently, he holds a record of 7-12 with a 4.51 ERA and has completed ten quality starts this season. Despite his occasional inconsistency, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch highlighted Flaherty’s detailed approach to the game, saying, “He does everything with a purpose,” noting his commitment to rigorous preparation, including arm exercises and nutrition.
Flaherty’s upcoming matchup is against the Royals, a team he has historically dominated. He boasts an impressive 4-0 record with a minuscule 0.72 ERA in 25 innings across four career starts against Kansas City.
On the opposing mound, Seth Lugo will take the field for the Royals. Lugo, who has a record of 8-6 and a 3.73 ERA, is also looking to build off a strong performance. After two challenging starts where he allowed a total of 13 earned runs in eight innings, Lugo rebounded by holding the Texas Rangers to just two runs over 6 1/3 innings.
“It’s part of the game,” Lugo reflected on overcoming his recent struggles. “You play long enough that you go through stretches like that.” He stressed the importance of maintaining confidence while pitching, stating, “Expect that if you have confidence when you’re out there pitching, you’re going to get through it.” Lugo made minor adjustments to his pitching mechanics, aiming to execute with greater precision.
In his career against the Tigers, Lugo has a record of 3-2 with a 3.53 ERA across six starts. The Tigers enter this game on a five-game winning streak, and they currently lead the American League Central Division by 11.5 games over the second-place Royals.
The series has not been without its highlights for Kansas City. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino had his franchise-record streak of five consecutive games with a home run come to an end during the Tigers’ 4-2 victory on Saturday.
As both teams prepare for this critical finale, Flaherty’s performance could further solidify the Tigers’ commanding lead in the division, while Lugo aims to help his team regain momentum.
