Phillies Get Disastrous News on All-Star Ace As Postseason Nears
Philadelphia Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo is making a move to the injured list with a left shoulder injury.
The Philadelphia Phillies have received devastating news as their star pitcher, Jesus Luzardo, was placed on the injured list due to a left shoulder injury. This development will end Luzardo's 2026 regular season, as he is currently in the midst of an exceptional year with the team. Luzardo, 28, has been instrumental in the Phillies resurgence following a slow start to the season.
He boasts a career-best 2.87 ERA through 29 starts, striking out 221 batters over 178.2 innings pitched. His 6.4 bWAR is the highest of his career, surpassing even his teammate Cristopher Sánchez, who finished second in NL Cy Young voting last year. Since the All-Star break, Luzardo has been particularly impressive, posting a 1.84 ERA over 68.1 innings with a remarkable 85 strikeouts.
His last start against the Atlanta Braves on September 7 saw him strike out 12 batters in a complete game shutout. Despite the injury, Luzardo remains optimistic about returning during the postseason, either as a starter or reliever. The Phillies are in a strong position for the postseason, currently holding the second Wild Card spot in the National League.
They are just a game ahead of the San Diego Padres and three and a half games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are the first team out of the postseason in the NL. Their position is a testament to their turnaround following a poor start to the season, which saw them finish April with a 12-19 record, the second-worst in the NL at that time.
With renewed momentum, the Phillies aim to make up for their shortcomings from last season's NLDS elimination, regardless of Luzardo's availability.
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