Tigers News: Jack Flaherty World Series Game 1, Fielding Bible awards, fun Red Wings moment
Right-hander Jack Flaherty, who started the 2024 season atop the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, will take the ball for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series Friday.
And, in an added twist of fate, he'll be doing it against the team that reportedly balked at trading for him at the deadline. Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tigers had a "preliminary" trade agreement in place that would send Flaherty to the New York Yankees, but the Yankees ultimately backed out of the deal after reviewing Flaherty's medical records.
Flaherty was a huge addition to the Dodgers' injury-riddled starting rotation after the trade deadline, but his playoff performance thus far has seen mixed results. Through three starts in these playoffs, Flaherty has pitched to a 7.04 ERA. He dominated in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, allowing two hits over seven innings, but he struggled in Game 5, surrendering eight earned runs and four walks in three innings.
Flaherty will square off against fellow Southern California native Gerrit Cole, who will take the mound for the Yankees in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.
Tigers' Riley Greene wins Fielding Bible Award at left field after Gold Glove snub
Fielding Bible announced this week the winners of its 2024 awards for the top defensive players at each position this season, and the Tigers' own Riley Greene was the winner at left field. Greene, who dethroned back-to-back winner Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians to win his first career Fielding Bible Award, led all left fielders in defensive runs saved this season with 14.
Despite his defensive dominance in left field, Greene's name was conspicuously missing from the list of Rawlings Gold Glove finalists for 2024. Though the Fielding Bible Awards are decidedly less prestigious, it's still nice to see Greene get some well-deserved recognition.
Tigers' Jake Rogers, Jason Foley hype up crowd at Detroit Red Wings Game
Tigers catcher Jake Rogers and relief pitcher Jason Foley took in an NHL game last week between the Detroit Red Wings and the New York Rangers at Little Caesars Arena, and the pair were introduced on the jumbotron before the game to the tune of thunderous applause from the hometown crowd.
Rogers was mic'd up for the game, treating fans to a behind-the-scenes look at several fun moments that included him coordinating a "Let's go Red Wings!" chant with Foley before they were introduced to the crowd.
Rogers and Foley each wore custom Red Wings jerseys with their names and Tigers jersey numbers on the back. Rogers, for his part, was delighted to learn that he shares No. 34 with Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon, who currently ranks first among all NHL goaltenders with a .955 save percentage.
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