Flaherty gave up six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Reds on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals staked Flaherty to a six-run lead before he even took the mound yet he could not secure the Opening Day win for himself. Inefficiency and a couple long balls against Flaherty led to manager Mike Shildt turning to his bullpen in the fifth inning as Flaherty's pitch count ticked up into the 90s (94 pitches thrown). A road matchup in Miami next week looks like a great spot for Flaherty to get right, on paper anyway.

Flaherty, the Cardinals' Opening Day starter, allowed an unearned run on three hits over three innings in a Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins on Saturday. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander had already worked up to 90 pitches against MIami on Monday, so Saturday's outing was more of an interim tune-up designed to keep Flaherty's arm conditioned ahead of Opening Day. He worked up to 55 pitches, throwing 38 for strikes, and wrapped up spring with his only scoreless effort in four trips to the mound.

Flaherty allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, three walks and a wild pitch across 5.1 innings in a Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins on Monday. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Despite the uneven final line, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports Flaherty came away from the outing satisfied, as the majority of his trouble was limited to a four-run fifth inning. Flaherty's fastball topped out at 95.5 mph and he was able to go beyond his projected pitch count, leaving him confident he's ready for Opening Day. "It feels like the season's here," Flaherty said. "It feels like the spring has gone real quick. I mean, I think we're out of here in a week, which is crazy to think about. But yeah, ready to go."

Flaherty, who's logged five innings of Grapefruit League action over two appearances, stretched out to 83 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has been hittable in both instances he's taken the mound against opposing squads, giving up a total of five earned runs on six hits over those five frames. That trend continued Tuesday in the form of friendly fire, as Silver relays Flaherty gave up a pair of home runs to Paul Goldschmidt and one to Paul DeJong in the sim game. However, Flaherty did at least up his workload ahead of an Opening Day start versus the Reds.

Flaherty allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk while recording four strikeouts over four innings in a Grapefruit League loss to the Nationals on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Facing off against Max Scherzer, Flaherty gave a solid accounting of himself for the second time in less than a week against the Nationals after having faced part of their squad in a "B" game Friday. The right-hander now has strong back-to-back outings under his belt following a forgettable spring debut, and he was able to stretch out to 64 pitches in Wednesday's start.

Flaherty impressed while throwing 50 pitches in a "B" game against the Astros on Friday, following a poor showing in his first Grapefruit League start, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. "Very favorable," manager Mike Shildt said. "Everything was a lot crisper. Fastball had some good life to it, getting it by guys. Slider on the plate more, breaking out of the hand better."

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander hadn't pulled any punches when describing his performance in Sunday's Grapefruit League opener against the Nationals, labeling his performance that day as "horrible". Consequently, Flaherty's performance Friday amounted to a bit of a sigh of relief, even in the wake of what was just one poor outing. Shildt particularly praised Flaherty's ability to control counts much better than in his debut, when he'd retired just one of eight batters.

Flaherty, who threw just 17 of 39 pitches for strikes in his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against Washington, confirmed he wasn't experimenting with any new pitchers or mechanics during his outing and blamed himself for simply executing poorly, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. "Pitched horribly, set a horrible tone, but [Thomas] Parsons came in and did a really good job after me, and then Johnny Gant picked up from there," Flaherty said. "Bad way to set a tone for the team for spring, but the guys came and picked me up."

EDGE Analysis

Flaherty labored through a 23-pitch first inning that started out positively enough with a strikeout but devolved into the right-hander allowing a single and two walks before the frame ended early due to his elevated pitch count. With the second inning even more nightmarish -- Flaherty surrendered three consecutive singles, uncorked two wild pitches and issued a walk before getting the hook -- his first taste of 2021 game action was undeniably disastrous. Making the poor showing all the more jarring was the fact Flaherty is considered the ace of the staff and was just designated the Opening Day starter, but he'll at least have plenty more opportunities to round into form over the next five weeks of Grapefruit League action.

Manager Mike Shildt announced Thursday that Flaherty would serve as the Cardinals' Opening Day starter April 1 in Cincinnati, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Flaherty will also get the ball for the Cardinals' Grapefruit League opener versus the Nationals, likely working two innings in his first outing of the spring. Though Flaherty endured a turbulent 2020 campaign that was included a prolonged shutdown due to the Cardinals' COVID-19 outbreak, the 25-year-old's standing as the staff ace never wavered. Even though his ERA rose to 4.91 over a small sample of 40.1 innings in 2020, Flaherty remained one of the top strikeout artists among starters, finishing with K/9 rate above 10.5 for the third straight season.

Flaherty won his arbitration case over the Cardinals on Saturday and will make $3.9 million in 2021, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Flaherty and the Cardinals were unable to reach an agreement without an arbiter, but the right-hander will earn a hefty raise following his hearing. Now that the case is behind him, the Cardinals' ace will shift his focus toward spring training as he attempts to bounce back in 2021 after recording a 4.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 40.1 innings last season.

Flaherty allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings Friday as he was charged with the loss in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Flaherty sputtered at the end of the regular season as he allowed at least three runs in three of his final five starts. He was more effective Friday in the decisive Game 3 matchup against San Diego, but the Cardinals' offense was unable to generate any run production as the Padres used nine pitchers Friday. Flaherty recorded a 4.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 40.1 innings during the shortened 2020 regular season.