Dodgers trade for Jack Flaherty; also add Kevin Kiermaier - ESPN

The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers made a major move to upgrade their rotation just before Tuesday's trade deadline passed, acquiring right-hander Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers.

Los Angeles sent catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney, both minor leaguers, to Detroit to complete the deal.

The Dodgers also reached a deal with the Blue Jays to acquire outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, sending left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to Toronto in the deal. Los Angeles also will receive cash considerations.

The Tigers gave Flaherty a one-year, $14 million contract during the offseason, and he has rebounded nicely after several years of injuries and inconsistent performances. He's 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA, 133 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 106⅓ innings.

Among pitchers with at least 100 innings, he ranks fifth in lowest OBP allowed (.255), fifth in strikeout rate (32.0%) and 13th in wOBA allowed.

The Dodgers are World Series favorites at the trade deadline for the fourth time in the past five years. The favorite to win the World Series at the deadline has only gone on to win the World Series one time in the previous seven seasons, and that came in the shortened 2020 season:

Flaherty has thrown five innings or more in all 18 of his starts this season, the longest streak by any Tigers pitcher since Rick Porcello in 2014 (22 starts). No Dodgers pitcher has had as long a streak since 2022.

Los Angeles had a busy deadline, also getting super-utility man Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech as part of a three-team trade Monday. Its rotation has been hit hard by injuries this season, but Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw returned last week, and Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller are set to return from the injured list