{"id":221251,"date":"2025-08-03T00:01:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T00:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/221251\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T00:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T00:01:09","slug":"phillies-might-consider-moving-struggling-starter-to-bullpen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/221251\/","title":{"rendered":"Phillies Might Consider Moving Struggling Starter to Bullpen"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Phillies should consider moving Jes\u00fas Luzardo<\/a>\u00a0to the bullpen before the regular season ends. Matt Gelb of The Athletic has mentioned<\/a> that this is a possibility. Luzardo got off to a good start to the season<\/a> but has struggled over the summer months. Across March and April, the lefty had a 1.73 ERA with a 4.10 K\/BB rate as well as a 1.07 WHIP in six starts. However, since May 1, Luzardo has a 5.42 ERA with a 2.92 K\/BB rate to go along with a 1.50 WHIP in 16 starts. In each of the last three months, he has had a 5.00 ERA or worse. Additionally, Luzardo has seen his walk rate increase in each of those months relative to the last one.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jul 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) reacts against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
\nPhillies Should Consider Moving Jes\u00fas Luzardo to the Bullpen<\/p>\n

Overall this season, Luzardo has a 9-5 record with a 4.31 ERA in 22 starts. He also has a 2.98 FIP as well as a 3.18 K\/BB rate and a 1.372 WHIP. Luzardo does have a 0.74 HR\/9 allowed rate and an 8.5% HR\/FB allowed rate this year, both career bests. With that being said, opposing batters are swinging less and making contact more often against Luzardo relative to last season. Opposing hitters have made contact 72.7% of the time this season, which is a career worst for Luzardo. He has also thrown a career-high 52.0% of his pitches in the strike zone, with hitters making contact on 85.0% of those pitches, the most against Luzardo in a season.<\/p>\n

What Would Happen to the Starting Rotation<\/p>\n

While top prospect Andrew Painter<\/a> did not make his MLB debut<\/a> in July, it could be coming soon. At the start of the season, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said that Painter would debut around July. If he does not debut until on or after August 15, then he would maintain rookie eligibility for the 2026 season. Gelb noted that Aaron Nola<\/a> is on track to return around that date. Nola\u2019s return will make it easier to move Luzardo from the rotation to the bullpen. It would not be entirely surprising if Luzardo moves to the bullpen with Painter getting called up to be in the rotation around that time. The club has already publicly ruled out the idea of having Painter pitch out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n

Jes\u00fas Luzardo, Wicked 88mph Sweeper. \ud83e\udd22\u271d\ufe0f\ud83e\udd8e pic.twitter.com\/7wPOWru8WZ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Postseason and Workload Considerations<\/p>\n

Given the current setup of the Phillies\u2019 rotation, Luzardo will likely be in the bullpen if the Phillies make the postseason. With Jos\u00e9 Alvarado<\/a> unavailable for the postseason<\/a>, the Phillies need a left-handed starter to pitch out of the bullpen. Matt Strahm<\/a> and Tanner Banks<\/a> are currently the lone left-handed pitchers in the Phillies\u2019 bullpen. If Nola comes back on schedule and everyone else stays healthy, one of Luzardo or Ranger Su\u00e1rez<\/a> would be in the Phillies\u2019 postseason bullpen. Luzardo has not pitched more than 180 innings in a regular season and is seemingly starting to see the effects of a heavy workload. This makes it easier to move Luzardo to the bullpen in the postseason and even before that point to manage his innings. And, considering Su\u00e1rez has extensive postseason experience, keeping him in the rotation is preferable.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Main Photo Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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