As the Detroit Tigers navigate a season already marred by injuries, one thing remains clear: the team is standing firmly behind starting pitcher Jack Flaherty—despite his ongoing struggles with command.

Opening the season as Detroit's No. 3 starter, the veteran right-hander has had a rocky start. In six of his seven starts, Flaherty has allowed three or more walks, and he's failed to pitch past the fifth inning five times. His ERA sits at 5.90, and he's yet to record a win this season, holding an 0-2 record.

Yet, with ace Tarik Skubal sidelined after his third major left elbow injury—joining a list of six potential starters on the Injured List—the Tigers need Flaherty now more than ever. That's why he was scheduled to take the mound Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park, hoping to avoid a three-game sweep.

The root of Flaherty's troubles is nothing new. Throughout his 10-year MLB career, he's battled inconsistency with throwing strikes. Over his last three starts, he's worked just nine combined innings, surrendering 10 earned runs on 13 hits and 11 walks. In last Friday's 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers, the pattern was all too familiar: after allowing a lead-off home run to light-hitting catcher Danny Jansen, Flaherty lost the zone completely, walking the next three batters and setting the stage for a four-run inning.

"He's trying to find solutions," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "After the homer, he lost the zone. We needed to squeeze a few more innings out of Jack."

Signed for $20 million this season, Flaherty was expected to be a reliable mid-rotation arm. For a Tigers team sitting at 18-19, every quality start matters—especially with their Cy Young winner watching from the sidelines. The question isn't whether Flaherty will keep his spot; it's whether he can find the strike zone and help steady a rotation in desperate need of a lift.