The Philadelphia Phillies handed the ball to Jesús Luzardo for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park.
Luzardo’s rise from depth piece to October ace
The left-hander went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA in his first season with the Phillies, earning the start after a breakout year that saw him strike out 216 batters, tied for fourth-most in the Majors. Luzardo’s debut season in Philadelphia exceeded all expectations, transforming him from a depth pickup into a legitimate rotation weapon.
For most of the year, Luzardo pitched like an ace. He started the season 5-0 with a 1.95 ERA in his first ten outings, dominating with a fastball that touched 98 mph and a sharp changeup that consistently fooled hitters. Though he hit a rough stretch in early June, giving up 20 runs in back-to-back starts, he rebounded strongly to finish as one of the club’s most reliable arms.
When you take out those two disastrous games, Luzardo’s ERA drops to 3.03 across his other 30 starts, showing just how consistent he was from April to September.
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Heading into Game 1, Phillies manager Rob Thomson praised Luzardo’s ability to control the moment and attack lineups heavy with right-handed bats such as the Dodgers. Luzardo faced Los Angeles once late in the regular season and struck out 12 while allowing just two hits in seven scoreless innings, one of his best performances of the year.
With ace Zack Wheeler out following thoracic outlet surgery, the Phillies turned to Luzardo to set the tone for the series. His command, strikeout stuff, and calm under pressure made him the clear choice to open the NLDS.
So if fans were wondering who took the mound to start the series for Philadelphia, the answer was simple: Jesús Luzardo, the 26-year-old lefty who has been pitching like he belongs in October all along.
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