Flaherty struck out nine in his longest start of the season. Alas, run support has been an issue as he’s opened up 1-2 with a 2.63 ERA. The Tigers have been shut out in each of his last two starts, and they haven’t scored with him in the ballgame since Apr. 4. Flaherty will face the Astros next.

Flaherty struck out four opposing hitters on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. The Brewers got him for a pair of runs in the second inning, including a solo blast off the bat of Rhys Hoskins, then scratched one another in the fourth on a bloop RBI single by Joey Ortiz. Flaherty threw 98 pitches (56 strikes) in the contest and still couldn’t navigate through five innings, getting 12 whiffs and posting a CSW of 23 percent. He’ll tote an impressive 2.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 25/9 K/BB ratio (21 1/3 innings) into Sunday’s tilt against the Royals.

Flaherty was in complete control for most of this game. He retired nine of 10 hitters after evading a bases-loaded jam in the second inning until walking Aaron Judge to lead-off the sixth. He was pulled shortly thereafter so lefty Tyler Holton could face Jazz Chisholm Jr. and he got out of that jam keeping Flaherty’s line pristine. His slider was especially lethal in this one forcing seven swings-and-misses as he was able to locate that and his knuckle-curve perfectly low and below the zone against left-handed batters. He’s lined up for a two-start week next against the Brewers and Royals.