Jack Flaherty proving a reliable force for Dodgers amid rash of pitching injuries
LA TimesDodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, center, throws out Cleveland’s Josh Naylor at first as catcher Will Smith, left, watches during the seventh inning of the Dodgers’ 4-0 victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium. “And today it was a pitching clinic.” It’s worth remembering: The Dodgers were mere minutes away from missing on Flaherty six weeks ago. “When you get different elements like that, whether it’s super cold or really hot, it’s just another challenge.” With stellar fastball command and swing-and-miss secondary stuff — including an improved slider he said he worked to refine last week — the 28-year-old tossed his first scoreless outing since his Aug. 3 Dodgers debut. “Knowing a guy that can be a stopper or put you in a position to win a series,” Roberts said, “that’s obviously a positive thing.” And something that, if not for Flaherty’s last-second arrival at the deadline, the Dodgers might have been in danger of entering October without.