The Phillies needed the rubber match in Cincinnati, and Jesus Luzardo gave them exactly that.
With Philadelphia and the Reds split through the first two games of the series, Luzardo stepped in for the finale and turned it into a classic pitcher’s duel against Brady Singer. The Phillies came away with a 1-0 win, and Luzardo’s seven shutout innings did far more than just settle one game - they made a loud case for why he belongs on the National League All-Star Team.
The left-hander was nearly untouchable. He gave up only two hits, walked two, and hit Spencer Steer with a pitch for the game’s only other baserunner against him.
The lone real threat came in the bottom of the fifth, when Noelvi Marte walked, moved to second on Edwin Arroyo’s groundout to Bryson Stotto, and reached third on TJ Friedl’s single. But Luzardo slammed the door by getting Elly De La Cruz to ground into a force out to Trea Turner, keeping the Reds off the board.
What really stood out was how cleanly he worked. Luzardo struck out 11 and needed just 96 pitches to get through seven innings, with 62 of those pitches going for strikes.
It was the fourth time this season he has reached double-digit strikeouts in a game, and it pushed his season line to 136 strikeouts in 110.1 innings. His ERA now sits at 3.51, a sharp turnaround from where it stood after nine starts, when it was 5.07 and still trending the wrong way.
Earlier in the week, Luzardo was told he would be a replacement on the National League All-Star Team, and this outing looked every bit like an All-Star performance. He now joins Cristopher Sanchez and Jhoan Duran as Phillies pitchers on the NL All-Star staff.
One notable omission remains Zack Wheeler, who was also deserving of a selection and has been called the biggest snub on either team this year. Wheeler and his agent have both made clear they’re unhappy with the absence, and the feeling around his case is that he’s been overlooked compared to his peers.
In Other News...
Reds Get KeBryan Hayes Back But Another Lineup Setback Hits
The Reds got one infield reinforcement back Monday when Ke'Bryan Hayes came off the injured list after a brief rehab assignment, a welcome step for a club that has been juggling pieces at third base. Hayes had been out since May 22 with a back injury and got in five minor-league games before returning, giving Cincinnati a chance to settle that spot down as the stretch run approaches.
The relief was tempered by another hit to the lineup, though, as Matt McLain landed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain. McLain has been a regular presence for the Reds this season, and his absence leaves another hole for a team already trying to keep its offense and infield alignment intact while waiting for the next wave of health to arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Franconas Latest Reds Lineup Gamble Says Plenty About Center Field
Terry Franconas latest lineup call says a lot about where the Reds are right now in center field. With injuries thinning out the roster, Francona is leaning into Spencer Steers right-handed bat for a game against the Cubs, even if it means asking him to handle a spot he has never played professionally. It is the kind of move that usually only shows up when a manager is balancing short-term survival against long-term comfort.
Noelvi Marte and TJ Friedl are part of the backdrop here, too, because Franconas choice suggests he is not fully sold on either option in this matchup. The Cubs are sending a left-hander to the mound, and the Reds are clearly trying to squeeze out the best possible offensive fit while keeping the defense together. For a club already navigating injuries, the bigger question is whether this is a one-night patch or the start of a more creative, and more revealing, approach to center field. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Draft Vision Is Finally Paying Off In A Huge Way
Two years after Cincinnati used the second pick in the MLB Draft on Chase Burns, the move looks like the kind of selection that can shape an organization for years. Burns has already turned into an All-Star and a National League Cy Young Award candidate, which only reinforces the Reds long-running belief that the fastest way to build a contender is through the draft, especially on the mound.
That approach has become the backbone of the rotation, with the Reds leaning heavily on homegrown starters such as Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo while continuing to target pitching and up-the-middle talent in the draft. Theyll get another chance to add to that pipeline this year, with multiple picks giving them room to keep stockpiling the kind of players they trust most, even as the organizations recent draft record keeps raising the stakes on every decision. [Read more 🡒]