It wasn’t all that long ago that the Yankees were interested in Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Now they’ll face the starting pitchers when the play the Dodgers in the first two games of the World Series. The Yankees had a potential deal for Flaherty fall through prior to the trade deadline due to medical concerns. That allowed the Dodgers to acquire the righty from the Tigers instead. Los Angeles used former Yankees prospect Trey Sweeney in the deal. Now Flaherty will start Game 1 on Friday against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. “It’s crazy to think I could have been on the other side of this, but I’m happy for the situation that I’m in and being part of this team,” said Flaherty, who went to high school in Los Angeles and has not faced the Yankees this season. Flaherty, who had a lower-back issue prior to being traded, recorded a 3.58 ERA over 10 regular season starts for the Dodgers. He’s been inconsistent in the postseason, allowing 12 earned runs over three starts and 15.1 innings despite a seven-inning, scoreless outing. “Unfortunately, you get a lot of different reports going out there, and at the end of the day, I would have brought Jack Flaherty in if I could have matched up,” Brian Cashman said after the trade deadline passed. “I had difficulty matching up, and that was the reason I don’t have him. Simple as that.” As for Yamamoto, the Yankees were finalists for the Japanese right-hander over the offseason. However, the Game 2 starter picked a record-setting, 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers — and the chance to team up with fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani. The Yankees offered Yamamoto 10 years and $300 million, a higher average annual salary but less total money. “For a player that’s never played in the major leagues before, that’s a lot of money,” Hal Steinbrenner said in spring training. “And sooner or later, you have to have a limit.” A triceps injury limited Yamamoto to 18 starts as a rookie, but he recorded a 3.00 ERA. He’s allowed seven earned runs over three starts and 12.1 innings this postseason. Yamamoto pitched against the Yankees in the Bronx back in June. He was dominant, blanking the Bombers for seven innings while totaling two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. “Yamamoto looked great,” Aaron Judge said after that start. “He signed the deal he did for a reason. He’s a great pitcher. Besides having elite stuff, he’s got great command.”