August is almost finished, meaning it won't be long until postseason baseball takes over the Motor City. The Detroit Tigers' AL Central-best 78 wins have them on pace for a second straight playoff appearance, and a wide-open American League could have manager A.J. Hinch's club challenging for a World Series title if they can play their cards right.
As great as things are at the moment, Detroit can't afford to take its foot off the gas. Every Tiger must give Hinch & Co. their best effort throughout the next month and change. The 2025 MLB postseason will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 30, meaning time is ticking for players to prove they deserve to be in the playoff mix.
With that in mind, this struggling Tigers pitcher must use September to get himself off the thin ice he's stranded himself on.
Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty is on Thin Ice 1 Month Before MLB Playoffs
Reliable starting pitching is important for all playoff-bound teams, which is why the Tigers desperately need Jack Flaherty to change his trajectory. The former first-round pick's 2025 performance has been a rollercoaster ride; however, the last few weeks have seen the downhill slopes outnumber the brighter spots.
After winning the 2024 World Series with the L.A. Dodgers, Flaherty returned to the Tigers on a two-year, $35 million contract in February. He initially lived up to his lofty price tag, pitching to a 3.41 ERA with 85 strikeouts across 71 1/3 innings in his first 13 starts. Unfortunately, his performance since has left much to be desired.
In 13 starts since June 14, Flaherty has tallied an abysmal 6.47 ERA with a personal 2-7 record. He had a few bright spots in July, but that hasn't been the case this month. He's allowed 18 earned runs on 29 hits in 21 innings across his last four outings, which includes surrendering eight ERs on a season-high 10 hits in a 10-8 loss to the rival Kansas City Royals on Aug. 24.
Considering how he's allowed five-plus ERs in three of his last four outings (including twice at Comerica Park), it's hard to justify Flaherty's spot in the rotation. Funny enough, the 29-year-old RHP is slated to face the Royals again on Saturday, which is the type of game that could make or break his outlook down the stretch.
If he's lit up by the AL Central rival again, Detroit may have no choice but to move Flaherty to the bullpen and allow someone else to take his spot in the rotation. MLB rosters will be expanding to 28 players on Monday, opening the door for a potential call-up to steal his job.
Flaherty has proven his arm can be reliable in the past. Now, it's up to him to consistently show that down the stretch if he wants to be a part of any postseason success that the Tigers might enjoy this fall.