Jack Flaherty makes adjustments for start of World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers have leaned on their bullpen to carry the load through the postseason to this point, but in their World Series matchup against the New York Yankees, the starting lineup has a tall task on its hands.

That process begins with Jack Flaherty starting Game 1 on Friday. Flaherty has made three starts this postseason with mixed results.

After allowing four runs in 5.1 innings against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, he threw seven shutout innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. But Flaherty then struggled mightily in Game 5 against the New York Mets.

Nevertheless, the Dodgers have confidence in their right-hander, who in turn goes into the World Series with the same attitude as in the regular season.

“Kind of like any other start in the regular season,” Flaherty said of the improvement after a subpar effort. “Keep the same work ethic and approach to everything as I do during the season.

“For me, every game of the season is the biggest game of the year, so that doesn’t change when you go to the playoffs or the World Series. The mindset stays the same and the adjustments are always a little different from start to start or pitch to pitch from start to start.

“Some you need to fine-tune a bit, some you need to fine-tune a bit more. But you don’t have to reinvent everything. It’s just a matter of figuring out what those little adjustments are. Those few days off to dive in and look at things were good. It’s about figuring it out and keeping the same approach you’ve taken all year.”

Flaherty’s velocity was down across the board in Game 5 of the NLCS, resulting in him making extremely hittable throws and being unable to command the strike zone. A number of factors played a role, and Flaherty believes a general panic was the reason he was out of sync against the Mets.

“Usually it’s just timing,” he noted. “I think there were some starts this year that were up and down and I was able to make corrections until next year. Maybe not right at that moment because sometimes it’s all about the timing and the way everything is in sync and sometimes with some of those fastballs you start pushing the ball or the arm kind of gets lost in space and you can’t get it right, the same drive behind it.

“Or for me, my lower half gets a little bit affected. At a certain point, when you get into games like this and you feel like you’re not quite at the same level anymore, you just have to compete and give it everything you’ve got, no matter what you’re capable of. At this point I stop paying attention to speed and so on and just try to execute what I have.

“Sometimes you can make those adjustments in the game, sometimes you can’t, and you just go out there and compete and save the adjustments for in between. Usually it’s just a matter of timing and trying to get the arm and whole body in harmony. That has been one of the main focuses in the last few days. It’s just a matter of getting some work in the bullpen [Wednesday] and get ready for Friday.”

Ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, Flaherty’s main focus in adapting to the Yankees is limiting error throws. Trying to pitch with diminished gear will beat him, but Flaherty is determined to avoid such disappointment.

“Immersion in a movie, immersion in pitch selection, different things of that nature,” Flaherty said. “When I watched the game again, I felt like the game got faster in that inning. Several times I’ve been one pitch away from getting out there where it’s still either 3-1 or 5-1 instead of 8-1.

“I gave up the home run to Pete in the first game, he puts good swing on the ball, they bring a few guys in, we come out to keep the ball level. If I get a zero in the next inning, I’m a pitch or two away from making that inning different, and that’s how this game goes sometimes.

“Usually you look at it and you’re a pitch here or there away from the game being a little different. Honey came in and did an incredible job the rest of the game. I think it’s just a matter of looking at it and understanding that it was right there, and if we can control a few more things, I’ll be in a little bit better of a situation.”

Jack Flaherty knows the Yankees’ lineup

When it comes to game-planning Yankees sluggers Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, Flaherty isn’t one to focus solely on facing stars.

“I don’t think anyone else can be viewed as less dangerous,” Flaherty said. “You look at our lineup from top to bottom, especially when you can take guys at the bottom of the rankings and get them to the top. Then you get into more difficult situations and you have to pitch through traffic with these guys coming our way.

“It’s about executing your game plan, it’s about treating every batsman the same. Go out there and attack them, try to execute your game plan, move forward and stay ahead. Don’t make things too complicated or too hard.”

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