Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Dodgers righthander Jack Flaherty is stoked for his start in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the New York Mets on October 13. During a press availabililty on Saturday, he discussed his eventful season, including a mid-year trade and the team’s recent playoff run.
He admitted that part of the high from Friday’s win came from the Dodgers not being picked to win by many in the national media, despite having the best record in baseball. “These guys have shown a lot of fight,” he explained, “and you know weirdly having not a lot of people believe that we had any chance in that last series and um picking that team which is again a great team but I think uh I think that stuck with a bunch of guys and uh you know hoping we keep that same energy you know going forward.”
Reflecting on the trade deadline that brought him to Los Angeles from Detroit, Flaherty described it as a tense waiting game. “It felt like déjà vu,” he said. “I was just sitting around, trying to figure out what was going to happen.” He initially spent the season with the Detroit Tigers, where he enjoyed a productive stint. Despite the Tigers’ second-half surge falling just short in the division series, Flaherty expressed pride in his former team’s efforts, noting that “what they were able to do… I think surprised a lot of people. I don’t really think it surprised me.”
When asked about his transition to Los Angeles, Flaherty acknowledged the significance of coming back home. “To be here with LA and to come home, yeah, there’s really no words for it,” he admitted. Flaherty also praised manager Dave Roberts for his leadership during the team’s NLDS win against the San Diego Padres. “He appreciated the way I go out and compete and told me to keep that going,” Flaherty said. He commended Roberts’ strategic management of the bullpen, which played a key role in the Dodgers’ victories. “Hats off to our guys and the way that they threw the ball… our bullpen was amazing.”
Flaherty also shared his thoughts on the current state of starting pitching in the postseason, which has seen more teams relying on bullpen depth. “It’s always kind of been a quicker hook when you get into the postseason,” he said, while emphasizing that starters who are effective early in games still get the chance to go deep. Drawing from his experience in 2019, Flaherty explained that “when guys are rolling, you see them stay in there longer.” He added that each pitch takes on heightened significance during October, making every decision crucial.
Looking back at his youth, Flaherty recalled attending Dodgers games as a young fan, including memorable playoff matchups against the Mets in 2015. “Watching Syndergaard and deGrom throw… those were special arms,” he reminisced. Now, as a starter for the Dodgers, he finds himself in a similar high-stakes environment, preparing to face the same Mets franchise that captured his attention years ago.
The Mets, who surged late in the season to reach the playoffs, pose a formidable challenge. Flaherty acknowledged their hot streak, stating, “At this point, they’ve been really good. That’s why we play 162… because you can go through a little cold stretch and then start rolling, and it just hasn’t stopped for them.” Despite the stiff competition, Flaherty believes the Dodgers’ recent success, especially the clutch performances against the Padres, has set them up well for the series.
As he prepares to take the mound in Game 1, Flaherty remains focused on maintaining the team’s momentum. “We’re going to try to ride off of what Yoshi did in the last game and not try to do too much,” he said, referring to his teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto‘s dominant outing. “It’s about keeping that same energy going forward.”
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