Tuesday evening will mark a special occasion for Chicago White Sox ace Lucas Giolito and St. Louis Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty.
The good friends and former high school teammates at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles will square off for the first time in their MLB careers when they each take the mound as the White Sox host the Cardinals on Tuesday. It will be the culmination of a dream dating back years.
The pari believes it's the first time they face each other in a organized game, ever.
"Definitely one day, (we’ve discussed) all being in (the league), all three of us,” Flaherty told MLB.com. "In terms of matching up, I don't know if that was ever (discussed). I think it's more of a conversation of Max vs. Lucas, and hopefully that happens at some point. But it’s going to be fun.”
And you can't forget about their other teammate from high school, Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried. All three started for their respective teams on MLB Opening Day this year.
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"This is stuff we talked about throughout high school and then in the minor leagues,” Giolito said. “This whole thing is very exciting with family members from both sides coming in. There are a lot of friends coming too.”
Giolito and Flaherty are in similar situations in the sense that they both lead the starting rotations of strong teams that are leading their respective divisions. With a 4.35 ERA, Giolito has encountered a few struggles in 2021, but he’s coming off an excellent last outing and was terrific the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, Flaherty has been dominant, going 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in his first nine starts of the season. His eight wins lead MLB and he matched the great Bob Gibson as the only Cardinals pitchers ever to go 8-0 in their first nine starts of a season.
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While they’ll each take the mound, neither will step into the batter’s box against the other with the game being hosted by the White Sox – which was fine with Giolito, who doesn’t get semi-regular at-bats like Flaherty does in the National League.
“Not particularly," Giolito said when asked if he has any desire to bat against Flaherty. “I think if the opportunity presented itself, it may be fun. But this allows me an easier introduction where I can just concentrate on the pitching side. It's going to be an exciting fun moment for both of us.”
Flaherty has proven himself useful with a bat, as he hit his first MLB home run this season:
Current White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz was a coach for Flaherty, Giolito and Fried in high school. So, which was his favorite out of the group?
“I don't think he had one,” Giolito said with a laugh. “Even if he did, he wouldn't tell you. He did come over here to coach, so maybe that says something.”
Giolito (No. 16 overall by the Nationals) and Fried (No. 7 overall by the Padres) were each selected in the first round of the 2012 amateur draft. Flaherty was drafted by the Cardinals at No. 34 overall in the first round in 2014.
The family members of the three pitchers have a close bond, Giolito said.
“I called Jack's mom (Eileen) ‘Mamma Flare,’” Giolito said. “I absolutely adore and love her. She was at every single game that we played in high school. She would bake and bring us brownies. Those cookies were absolutely famous around Harvard-Westlake parks. That is the same for my side. My parents love Jack. We are all so close. This is the first time any of us did this (faced each other) and hopefully, it's the first time of many more the three of us face each other.”
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Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.