Philadelphia Phillies
· 2026-07-10
The Philadelphia Phillies won 1-0 at Cincinnati Reds on July 9, 2026, with Jesús Luzardo delivering a dominant start.
Luzardo's performance was key to the Phillies' victory, with 11 strikeouts and a 1.45 ERA in his last six starts.
He has been the true middle of the Phillies' rotation in 2026, with the team going 12-6 in his starts.
The Phillies are now 52-42, standing 5th in the National League, on a W1 streak, and Luzardo's form is a major factor.
Luzardo's sweeper pitch has been particularly effective, with 30 of his 45 strikeouts in the last five outings coming from this pitch.
Luzardo is set to start in the 96th Midsummer Classic, and his current form makes him a strong contender.
The Phillies' rotation, including Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez, is looking strong, with the team going 25-8 in their starts.
Luzardo's ability to get ahead with his other pitches has allowed him to remain effective with his sweeper late in counts.
He finished his night with seven scoreless innings, and the Phillies now have double-digit games with 10 strikeouts.
The team's manager, Don Mattingly, praised Luzardo's performance, saying he was "on his game" and that his sweeper was working well.
Luzardo's success has been a key factor in the Phillies' recent wins, and he will look to continue this form in his next start.
The Phillies are getting a glimpse of their rotation's ceiling as Luzardo, Wheeler, and Sánchez continue to perform well.
Luzardo's dominant starts have been a major factor in the Phillies' success, and he will look to continue this form in the second half of the season.