The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for game one of the World Series against the New York Yankees on Friday.
After an offensive explosion in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, the Dodgers have some momentum going with the bats.
Jack Flaherty will take the mound for the Dodgers in game one after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers before the trade deadline.
According to FOX Sports: MLB on ‘X,’ Flaherty honored Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela by showing up to game one wearing his jersey.
Jack Flaherty showed up to Game 1 wearing a Fernando Valenzuela jersey 💙 #WorldSeries
📸: @Dodgers pic.com/uLxbNkKlvT
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 25, 2024
Flaherty is coming off his worst postseason start of the year against the Mets where he threw three innings allowing eight earned runs on eight hits while walking four in the loss.
He will look to bounce back in game one versus the Yankees, and he appears to be channeling Valenzuela’s performance against this same Yankees club back in 1981.
Valenzuela pitched one game against the Yankees in the 1981 World Series where he threw a complete game allowing nine hits, four earned runs, and seven walks while striking out six in the win.
1981 was an electric season for Valenzuela as he won both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Cy Young Award.
Flaherty is getting the nod for game one likely due to injuries to key starters Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw.
He will look to replicate his outing in game one against the Mets where he threw seven innings allowing two hits, zero earned runs, and two walks while striking out six in the win.
