Jack Flaherty’s 12-Strikeout Gem: How the Ace’s Dominant Return Shifts the Playoff Picture

DETROIT – When the Detroit Tigers tabbed Jack Flaherty to take the ball for today’s decisive Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians, manager A.J. Hinch leaned on one simple fact: October is when Flaherty’s poise plays up. The 29-year-old right-hander has been here before. Exactly five years ago to the day, Flaherty spun six scoreless innings for St. Louis in a win-or-go-home NL Wild Card tilt, cementing a postseason reputation that now precedes him in Motown. After a roller-coaster 2025 regular season (8-15, 4.64 ERA, 188 K), the Tigers believe his strikeout punch and experience can neutralize a Guardians lineup that ranked fourth in the AL in on-base percentage. Flaherty will duel rookie right-hander Slade Cecconi in a 3 p.m. ET matinee at Progressive Field, with both bullpens fully rested after yesterday’s travel day. Detroit’s game plan is clear: ride Flaherty through the middle innings, then hand the ball to fireman Alex Lang and closer Jason Foley. The Guardians, meanwhile, will counter with their left-heavy bench the moment Flaherty’s pitch count climbs. Key matchup to watch: Flaherty vs. José Ramírez. The Cleveland slugger is 4-for-11 with a homer lifetime against the Tigers’ starter, but Flaherty has expanded his repertoire since their last meeting, leaning more on a sweeper that held opponents to a .187 average in September. Detroit’s clubhouse insists Game 2’s shutout loss is ancient history. “Jack sets the tone,” shortstop Javier Báez said. “When he’s attacking, our defense gets in rhythm.” Flaherty echoed the sentiment: “I’ve pitched in elimination games before. The mound is the same distance.” The Tigers haven’t won a postseason series since 2013, and a victory this afternoon would send them to an ALDS date with top-seeded Baltimore, the club that drafted and briefly employed Flaherty in 2024 before trading him back to Detroit last winter. That storyline isn’t lost on him. “Baseball’s got a funny way of coming full circle,” he said with a grin during Wednesday’s workout. For the Guardians, stopping that narrative hinges on early traffic. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt noted his hitters’ plan to force Flaherty up in the zone, where he surrendered 20 of his 29 homers this year. If they can elevate his pitch count past 90 by the fifth, their potent bullpen trio of Emmanuel Clase, Tim Herrin and Cody Morris could take over. Whether Flaherty’s electric four-seamer or Cleveland’s patient approach wins out, one certainty remains: October reputations are forged in games like today’s. The Tigers are betting theirs will be built on Flaherty’s right arm—again.