BASEBALL: Tigers' Jack Flaherty, facing Angels, searches for first win of season

The Detroit Tigers continue to struggle near the bottom of the American League, with much of their difficulty tied to the ongoing performance issues of right-hander Jack Flaherty.

Flaherty, who is scheduled to start the series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, is still searching for his first win of the season. Detroit has lost each of his last seven starts, including a recent outing in Baltimore, where he lasted just 3 1/3 innings.

In that game, Flaherty (0-6, 5.94 ERA) allowed six runs on eight hits. Only three of those runs were earned, but he also gave up home runs to Pete Alonso and Jackson Holliday.

“There’s a handful of fastballs that are probably over the middle of the plate that when I go back and look at it, I’ll see that,” Flaherty said.

Over his last six starts, he has allowed 22 earned runs in 23 2/3 innings, posting an 8.37 ERA while taking five losses.

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said Flaherty remains committed despite the struggles.

“Jack is always a competitor and he’s always trying to find a way,” Hinch said. “Obviously, he’s searching for the consistency that he’s had before in his career and will have again.”

“This is taking a toll on him. It’s taking a toll on all of us. Not just Jack’s performance, just the overall way things have gone. But we’ll get back to work and Jack will get back to work to find solutions.”

Flaherty has also historically struggled against the Angels, going 0-3 in his career with a 12.51 ERA in 13 2/3 innings against them.

Opposing him will be Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, who has made two starts since returning from right shoulder inflammation that delayed his season debut.

Rodriguez (1-1, 10.61 ERA) struggled in his first outing, allowing seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 17. He followed that with a more stable performance against the Texas Rangers, giving up four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 9-6 Angels win.

“Definitely took a step in the right direction,” Rodriguez said. “Still a lot of things to work on, though. Felt like I was fighting my delivery at times.”

He also noted improvements in his command.

“I don’t even want to look at the first-pitch strikes,” Rodriguez said. “I know that needs to be better, but we’re headed in the right direction.”

Rodriguez, acquired from Baltimore in a November trade involving Taylor Ward, has shown promise in his limited history against Detroit, allowing no runs in 10 innings across two career starts while striking out 15.

The Tigers earned a much-needed 4-0 win in the middle game of the three-game series on Wednesday, but it came at a cost.

Starter Casey Mize exited after the fourth inning due to right groin tightness, while closer Kenley Jansen also left the game after an awkward landing during a pitch delivery. Both players suffered groin-related injuries, though the full extent remains unclear, Hinch said.

Detroit’s victory snapped a 10-game stretch in which the club had won just once in 11 games. The Angels, meanwhile, saw their season-best four-game winning streak come to an end.

-Field Level Media/Reuters