What Yankees can learn from Mets for Game 5 of World Series

NEW YORK — It’s not often the Yankees can lean on the Mets for anything. The former has served as something of a big brother figure for the latter in New York, enjoying most of the spoils while also bragging about it.
Now, with the Yankees one loss away from elimination, they can look to Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty’s second start against the Mets in the NLCS for a sign of hope.
After shutting the Mets out over seven innings in Game 1 of the NLCS, Flaherty allowed eight runs on eight hits and four walks over three innings at Citi Field in Game 5. It resulted in the Mets winning 12-6 and forcing a Game 6 back in Los Angeles — the same outcome the Yankees are looking for, only in the World Series.
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Flaherty is the starter in Game 5 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. It’ll be the second time the Yankees see the 6-foot-4 right-hander, who allowed just two runs in 5 1/3 innings in Game 1.
The Yankees will have a slight advantage too. Flaherty had to push through hamstring tightness in his first start against the Yankees in Game 1.
“It’s caused a little extra work that I normally wouldn’t have to do, but I’m feeling good today, felt good yesterday during my bullpen,” Flaherty said. “At this point, it’s not anything I’m worried about.”
Flaherty’s postseason has been inconsistent. Each adequate start is met with an equally faulty one. It started badly against the Padres in the NLDS, where he allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and was followed by his excellent Game 1 performance against the Mets in the NLCS. Then after a bad performance in Game 5 of the NLCS, he followed it with a decent start against the Yankees.
In all, Flaherty’s allowed 14 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings, a 6.10 ERA. And he’s susceptible to allowing home runs, which the Yankees suddenly began hitting in their 11-4 Game 4 win on Tuesday — the Yankees outhomered the Dodgers three to two.
Flaherty has allowed the second-most home runs (four) in the postseason. He trails Yankees right-hander Carlos Rodón (five), who’s expected to take the ball in Game 6 in Los Angeles.
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Manny Gómez may be reached at [email protected].