Jesús Luzardo’s first All-Star nod landed at exactly the right moment for the Phillies.
The left-hander was not on the original roster, but he was added as a replacement for next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. For Luzardo, it’s the first All-Star selection of his career. For the Phillies, it’s the kind of payoff they were hoping for when they locked him up with a contract extension in the spring.
That deal came after Luzardo had already made a strong case for himself. He finished 2025 with a 3.92 ERA, a career-high 183 2/3 innings, and a seventh-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. Once he forced his way into the conversation as an extension candidate, the Phillies moved quickly and gave him a five-year, $135 million contract in March.
The timing worked out beautifully for Philadelphia. Rather than waiting for Luzardo to reach free agency and risk paying a higher price, the Phillies committed to him at $27 million per year through 2032. They wanted him in the rotation for the long haul, especially with the eventual departure of veteran ace Zack Wheeler looming, and they got him before the market could push the cost even higher.
Luzardo has backed up that belief early in 2026. Through 18 starts, he is 7-4 with a 3.75 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings.
The swing-and-miss stuff is still very much there, too. He is striking out hitters at a 28.6 percent clip, seventh-best among starters, and his 32 percent whiff rate ranks sixth among starters overall.
His sweeper has been the standout weapon. According to StatCast, it owns a league-best 49.8 percent whiff rate.
Luzardo has had some rough patches along the way, but he’s still been a major part of the Phillies’ rotation formula. “Zeus” has become a favorite in Philadelphia, the kind of starter fans circle every fifth day.
And now, with the All-Star Game set for Tuesday in his home ballpark, the Phillies will get to see the reward for making the move when they did. He looks like exactly the kind of arm they can lean on in the second half and into October.
In Other News...
Phillies Suddenly Have A Justin Crawford Question They Can't Ignore
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The bigger issue is what Crawfords status means for Philadelphias outfield plans as the trade deadline approaches. If hes ready to contribute soon, the Phillies can afford to be more patient in how they address the position, but if his availability lingers in question, the front office may have to rethink how aggressively it pursues help. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Buxton Just Addressed The Twins Trade Rumors Himself
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Kyle Schwarber Finally Weighed In On MLB's Derby Change
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For Schwarber, the bigger adjustment may not even belong to the hitter. He pointed out that the pitcher feeding balls into the derby will have to recalibrate the whole operation, from where to stand to how hard to throw, and even adjust to throwing to a catcher rather than a batting-practice backdrop. It is the kind of behind-the-scenes wrinkle that can matter just as much as the format itself, especially for a showcase built around rhythm, timing and repetition. [Read more 🡒]