Jesús Luzardo endured his toughest outing of the season on Saturday, taking his first loss against the Milwaukee Brewers in dramatic fashion. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up 12 hits, three walks, and a career-worst 12 earned runs.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Luzardo had allowed only 16 runs over his previous 11 starts combined. His impressive 2.15 ERA soared to 3.58, putting a halt to what had looked like a Cy Young-worthy campaign.
The Philadelphia Phillies mounted a response but ultimately fell 17-7. Despite the lopsided loss, Luzardo’s early exit—his first time failing to reach the fifth inning this season—exposed a deeper issue: the Phillies’ bullpen was clearly not equipped to handle extended duty.
While no one wanted to see Luzardo struggle, his rough outing may serve as a necessary wake-up call for the organization to address its bullpen problems.
Jesús Luzardo’s early departure brought the focus on the Phillies bullpen
The following day, Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed that Mick Abel would return to the starting rotation for their series in Toronto, while Taijuan Walker would shift back to the bullpen. While this isn’t the blockbuster move many Phillies fans were hoping for during the offseason, MLB.com’s Paul Casella suggests it’s likely the most sensible option for the moment.
With no major acquisitions leading up to the trade deadline, the team will need to rely on internal adjustments. Despite boasting one of the top rotations in baseball, the Phillies can’t expect every starter to throw six shutout innings.
The bullpen, already thin at the season’s start, took a big hit with José Alvarado sidelined for 80 games and the postseason. While they aren’t adding a big name right now, this short-term solution could prove helpful.
Abel made his MLB debut on May 18 in a memorable duel with Paul Skenes, pitching six shutout innings with five hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts in a 1-0 victory. Though initially considered a spot start, Abel earned another opportunity, starting again Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Walker, whose tenure with the Phillies has seen ups and downs, has shown his value this season by moving between the rotation and bullpen. In 10 appearances, he holds a 2-4 record with a 3.53 ERA. However, he’s excelled in relief, posting a 3.00 ERA with nine strikeouts and a .182 opponent batting average across six innings.
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