Jesús Luzardo Is Dominating in Philadelphia—and Earning Every Bit of Respect

Jesús Luzardo is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Philadelphia — and with good reason. Since arriving in the offseason via a trade with the Miami Marlins, Luzardo has not just met expectations; he’s shattered them. His 2025 campaign has been nothing short of electrifying, signaling a new peak in his career.

On Saturday, Luzardo once again showed why he’s becoming a staple in the Phillies’ rotation. Facing the Chicago Cubs, he tossed six strong innings, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out five. Though he surrendered two unearned runs, he otherwise kept Chicago completely off balance. His ERA now sits at a sparkling 1.73 — one of the 10 lowest among all qualified starting pitchers in baseball.

But you might not realize how fierce of a competitor Luzardo is just by meeting him, Phillies manager Rob Thomson told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Corey Seidman.
“He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet — until he steps onto the mound. Then he becomes a different guy,” Thomson said. “He’s been outstanding.”

When Philadelphia acquired Luzardo, he was viewed much like several of their other offseason additions: a talented player in need of a rebound. Last year with Miami, injuries limited Luzardo to just 66.2 innings, during which he posted a rough 5.00 ERA. Still, the Phillies saw the underlying potential and gambled that a change of scenery — plus better health — could unlock his best form.

So far, that bet is paying off.

According to Baseball Savant, Luzardo’s velocity, swing-and-miss rates, and chase rates have all returned to his strong 2023 levels. Even better, his command has improved. Opposing hitters have managed just a .568 OPS against him across 36.1 innings — the lowest mark of his career so far.

And Luzardo’s dominance couldn’t have come at a better time. With fellow lefty Ranger Suárez sidelined due to injury, the Phillies badly needed stability in the rotation. Luzardo has answered that call — and then some — giving Philadelphia an ace-like performance every fifth day.

Of course, maintaining this blistering pace over the course of a full 162-game season will be a challenge. Luzardo throws hard, and the wear-and-tear on a power pitcher’s arm is always something teams monitor closely. Health will be key if he’s to continue this breakout year.

But if Luzardo manages to stay on the mound and keep performing at anything close to his current level, he could very well be the next Phillies pitcher to secure a long-term extension — cementing his place in Philadelphia for years to come.