CINCINNATI • The bar for rookie starters that Daniel Poncedeleon and Austin Gomber have seemingly set during this series against Cincinnati was actually put there earlier this season by the Cardinals breakout first-year starter.
Flaherty's 3.15 ERA leads all rookie starters with at least 80 innings. His 1.11 WHIP and 1.6 WAR are also the best for rookies with at least 80 innings pitched. He has 96 strikeouts in 80 innings, and a fourth of his 15 starts for the Cardinals have been quality starts. He also was the first of this group to flirt with a no-hitter, to get technical.