Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty spoke candidly ahead of his NLDS Game 2 start, reflecting on the significance of pitching in the postseason for his hometown team. “It’s pretty surreal,” he said, recalling his childhood dreams of playing for the Dodgers. Having grown up attending games at Dodger Stadium, Flaherty shared that it’s a special feeling to now pitch on that same field in a postseason series.
Flaherty emphasized that his preparation remains unchanged, despite being shifted from Game 1 to Game 2. “It was one extra day,” he explained, adding that his bullpen session was simply pushed back. He is looking forward to facing the Padres again, a team he recently pitched against. “They’re a good team, a deep lineup. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”
When asked about any adjustments to his delivery, Flaherty said he and the coaching staff have worked on fine-tuning his mechanics for better consistency. “It all comes down to executing,” he stated. Flaherty acknowledged moments earlier in the season when he felt his fastball lacked “that extra juice,” but remains confident heading into the game.
The emotional weight of pitching for the Dodgers is not lost on him. “I’ve been here for playoff games with St. Louis, but being on this side, it’s different… I think about what eight-year-old me would say, and it’s pretty cool.”
Looking ahead to Game 2, Flaherty is eager for the challenge, fueled by the energy from the crowd. “These are fun postseason games… a lot of excitement, and you feed off every single ounce of it.” As for the key to success against the Padres, Flaherty believes in being aggressive on the mound. “I just want to get on the attack and go right after them.”
Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, set to start Game 2 of the NLDS, discussed how he’s been making mechanical adjustments in recent starts. “I’ve been working on syncing up my delivery to get more consistency,” he explained, pointing to issues earlier in the season when his fastball velocity wasn’t where he wanted it. Despite that, he’s focused on executing pitches rather than worrying about velocity alone.
Flaherty also acknowledged the challenge posed by the Padres lineup, noting, “They’re a veteran team that puts together good at-bats one after another.” He’s embracing the opportunity to compete against a tough team, adding, “You relish those challenges.”
When asked about the energy of pitching in a hometown postseason game, Flaherty expressed his excitement: “These games are intense, and the crowd brings a lot of energy. You just feed off of it.” He’s also keen to learn from teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s Game 1 start, saying, “I’ll be watching Yoshi and seeing what insights I can pick up.”
Flaherty made it clear that the key to the game would be attacking hitters and staying aggressive in the strike zone. “I want to get back to attacking hitters and not shying away from the strike zone,” he stated, emphasizing his desire to capitalize on opportunities to challenge a potent Padres lineup.
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