Tigers starting pitcher to be pushed back into Houston series

Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who left his start in Texas on June 4 after only 60 pitches, is being pushed back a few days as a precaution, manager AJ Hinch announced.

Flaherty reported back soreness at Texas, but he passed all his tests and apparently won’t need to be placed on the injured list.

Hinch said the pitching plan for the upcoming home series against the Washington Nationals is: Kenta Maeda (2-2, 6.25 ERA) Tuesday; Reese Olson (1-7, 3.43) Wednesday; and Casey Mize (1-4, 4.73) on Thursday.

Flaherty would then start Friday or Saturday in Houston against the Astros, giving him at least 10 days since his last start.

Maeda also left his last start early – after just two pitches, in fact.

Maeda felt discomfort on the right side of his abdomen after throwing a pitch to Texas Rangers leadoff guard Marcus Semien on June 5 in Arlington.

After a few warm-up pitches, Hinch took him out of the game. But after this abbreviated outing, he won’t miss a single start.

Maeda, 36, signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on November 26, 2023.

He has been the Tigers’ least effective starter in 2024 in an otherwise stellar rotation. In nine starts, he has a 6.25 ERA in 40 1/3 innings with 12 walks and 30 strikeouts. He allowed 10 home runs.

Flaherty, on the other hand, has been phenomenal. He was in the midst of another excellent start – five scoreless innings, two hits, no walks – before being thrown out early in Texas.