Jack Flaherty

Jack Flaherty allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five over five innings in the Cardinals 3-0 loss to the Brewers in Game One on Friday. Flaherty allowed a solo home run to Christian Yelich in the third inning and at least one Brewer reached base in every inning except the first. The Cardinals fell to 28-27 with the loss.

Fantasy Impact

Flaherty finishes the season 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA, 3.40 xFIP, 10.93 K/9 and 3.06 K/BB over 40 1/3 innings pitched this season. Owners who invested a high draft pick on Flaherty were likely disappointed by his output but besides his nine run blow up against the Brewers on September 15th he was solid. Enthusiasm for Flaherty in 2021 drafts might be hurt by his poor ERA so he could be a nice value pick in the early part of the middle rounds.

Jack Flaherty tossed six innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out 11 to record his second win of the season as the Cardinals beat the Pirates 2-1 on Sunday. Flaherty allowed a leadoff double to Bryan Reynolds in the fourth inning and the Pirates brought him around to score on a sacrifice fly later in the frame. Flaherty threw 102 pitches, 61 of them for strikes, and the Cardinals improved to 26-24 with the victory. They are now one game ahead of both the Reds and Brewers for Second Place in the NL Central in what figures to be one of the final week's most exciting playoff races.

Fantasy Impact

Flaherty had his first truly dominant start of the season on Sunday. He nearly doubled his previous season high in strikeouts from six to 11. It came on the heels of a disaster outing and showed fantasy owners that he can still be trusted as a fantasy ace. He has a 4.84 ERA across 35 1/3 innings pitched this season but his 3.27 xFIP indicates some bad luck contributing to his bloated ERA. Flaherty's BABIP, HR/FB% and LOB% are all worse than his career averages and if there were more time left in the season he'd be a good buy low candidate. He will face the Brewers on Friday in his final start of the season where he has a chance to redeem himself for his previous start.

Jack Flaherty allowed nine earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over three innings pitched in Tuesday's loss to the Brewers. Flaherty threw 81 pitches, 48 of them for strikes, and gave up back-to-back home runs in the first inning to Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun. The Brewers added two runs in the third on a Daniel Vogelbach double and seven runs in the fourth, five of which were charged to Flaherty. He allowed four singles and a walk before being relieved without recording an out in that inning. The Cardinals fell to 21-22 with the loss and have a half game lead over the Cincinnati Reds, and one game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers for Second Place in the NL Central.

Fantasy Impact

Flaherty had a 3.08 ERA heading into Tuesday's game. Nobody would have predicted that the Brewers, who had a .315 wOBA (18th in MLB) over the last 30 days, would embarrass Flaherty like they did on Tuesday. It could not have come at a worse time as fantasy owners in head-to-head leagues are in the first week of playoffs. Those in classic rotisserie formats were likely less effected by Flaherty's meltdown but it does cast a shadow on his rest of season outlook. Flaherty's ERA now stands at 5.52 and one has to wonder if this will effect his draft outlook for next season. Flaherty will face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in what should be a plus matchup for the right-hander. Owners in standard leagues can hold their noses and start Flaherty hoping that he returns to form by then.

Jack Flaherty threw five innings allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with six strike outs as the Cardinals beat the Tigers 12-2 in Game One on Thursday. Flaherty allowed a Jeimer Candelario home run in the fourth inning, which accounted for all of the Tigers scoring. The Cardinals moved to 19-17 after the victory.

Fantasy Impact

Flaherty is 3-1 on the season with a 3.08 ERA and 3.57 xFIP. He hasn't really hit his 'stride' yet but he is still pitching very effectively. He ranks in the 90th percentile at allowing hard contact, 27.1%. Owners in standard 12-team redraft leagues can treat Flaherty like the ace he is and start him regardless of match-up.

Jack Flaherty allowed three earned runs on four hits, two walks and struck out four in two and two-thirds innings pitched on Friday. Flaherty threw 69 pitches, 42 of them for strikes. He was met with the hook in the third inning after getting Kris Bryant to fly out to start the inning, hitting Anthony Rizzo, getting Javier Baez to ground out, and then allowing back-to-back singles to Jayson Heyward and Wilson Contreras. The Cardinals move to 14-15 with the loss. They are virtually tied with the Marlins and Rockies for the final playoff spot in the National League.

Fantasy Impact

Flaherty is now 2-1 on the season with a 2.95 ERA and 3.53 xFIP. He has 21 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings pitched and only six walks. He is a bonafide fantasy ace and should be started regardless of match-up. It is unfortunate that he had to face Cy Young favorite Yu Darvish on Friday. Better days are ahead for Flaherty.