PHILADELPHIA — With the trade deadline approaching, the Philadelphia Phillies are assessing their roster to enhance their World Series prospects. The team’s rotation is strong, led by Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez, but there are concerns about No. 4 starter Jesús Luzardo.
Luzardo started the season impressively with an 8-3 record and a 2.15 ERA in his first 11 starts. However, he has struggled recently, posting a 3-5 record with an 8.04 ERA in his last ten outings. His recent performance against the Red Sox highlighted these issues when he faltered in the fifth inning after a promising start.
“It’s unacceptable,” Luzardo stated regarding his recent performances.
The Phillies acquired Luzardo for depth in their rotation but may need him to bolster their bullpen during the postseason due to his struggles pitching out of the stretch.
“Clearly, you know, it’s not working,” Luzardo admitted. “So, working tirelessly at what we’ve got to do to fix it.”
In Wednesday’s game against Boston, Luzardo retired nine batters before struggling in the fifth inning. He allowed a leadoff double and issued several walks that contributed to Boston taking the lead.
“That’s not on J.T. at all,” Luzardo said after a miscommunication between players led to a crucial error.
Manager Rob Thomson took responsibility for not warming up reliever Jordan Romano sooner during this critical inning.
“I wanted him ready for [Trevor] Story,” Thomson explained. “Should have gotten him up a little bit earlier, so that’s on me.”
Despite Luzardo’s challenges, Thomson remains hopeful: “We’re still grinding through it.”
The Phillies are actively seeking bullpen reinforcements before the trade deadline as they aim to strengthen their team for potential postseason success.
