Game 34 - Luzardo Solid in Outing, Backed by Six-Run First Frame

Philadelphia Phillies	7
Miami Marlins	2

2026 Topps #63

Sunday Afternoon, May 3rd

loanDepot park - Miami, FL
14-20, 4th Place, 10 1/2 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Behind a six-run first inning and a 10-strikeout outing from Jesus Luzardo, the Phillies were able to defeat the Marlins, 7-2.

What It Means:  They'll go for the four-game series win on Monday night.

What Happened:  Luzardo was spotted a six-run lead before he even took the mound.  He would allow a pair of runs on eight hits en route to his third win of the year.  Chase Shugart and Orion Kerkering took care of the final eight outs, with Shugart continuing to impress.  The Phillies scored three runs quickly at the start of the game - Trea Turner doubled, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both walked and Alec Bohm brought Turner home when he grounded into a fielder's choice.  Marsh walked with the bases loaded scoring a second run and J.T. Realmuto hit a sac fly to center to score Harper.  Bryson Stott then launched his second three-run home run in the series, giving the Phillies a 6-0 lead.  Justin Crawford added an RBI single in the third.

Featured Card:  Luzardo earns the honors for his solid start, and this is his card from this year's Topps flagship offering.

2026 Virtual Phillies Wall (Coming Soon) / 2026 Season Summary Index / 2026 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 8 - Luzardo Ks 11 on Way to Win Over Rockies

Philadelphia Phillies	2
Colorado Rockies	1

2026 Philadelphia Phillies
Kids Club / Club 215

Saturday Night, April 4th

Coors Field - Denver, CO
5-3, Tied for 2nd Place, 1/2 game behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo struck out 11 in a stellar six-plus inning performance, and clutch RBI doubles from Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner gave the Phillies all the run support they'd need in this 2-1 win over the Rockies.

What It Means:  The Phillies would go for the series sweep on Easter Sunday.

What Happened:  Luzardo pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing a run on five hits and walking none.  Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran took care of the final seven outs, just like it had been drawn up in manager Rob Thomson's plans.  Duran notched his third save.

The lack of offense was concerning, especially given the outburst the night before, but the Phillies got hits when they needed them.  Turner walked to start the game, and Schwarber quickly doubled him home for a 1-0 lead.  In the fifth, Turner drove home Brandon Marsh with an RBI-double, breaking a 1-1 tie.

Featured Card:  I'm hoping to need a lot of Luzardo cards for these posts this season.  This is his team-issued card recently picked up from the Kids Club / Club 215 kiosk in Ashburn Alley at the ballpark.

2026 Virtual Phillies Wall (Coming Soon) / 2026 Season Summary Index / 2026 Chachi Set Checklist

2025 Chachi #15 Jesus Luzardo

Bats:  Left  Throws:  Left  Height:  6'0"  Weight:  218
Opening Day 2025 Age:  27

Born:  September 30, 1997, Lima, Peru
Acquired:  Traded by the Miami Marlins with Paul McIntosh for Emaarion Boyd and Starlyn Caba, December 22, 2024

Contract Status:  Signed through 2027
Major League Teams:  Oakland Athletics 2019-21; Miami Marlins 2022-24; Philadelphia Phillies 2025

Postseason Appearances:  Oakland Athletics 2019-20; Miami Marlins 2023; Philadelphia Phillies 2025

2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Jesus Luzardo was in the running for the ace of the staff early in the season until a disastrous 12-runs allowed outing against the Brewers in late May where it was suspected the lefty was tipping his pitches.  He'd figure it out somewhat, struggling throughout the summer, but then turning it around down the stretch drive in August and September.  For the season, Luzardo was 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts and 183 2/3 innings pitched.  Only Cristopher Sanchez made that many starts and exceeded Luzardo's innings pitched on the Phillies' pitching staff, while Luzardo's 216 strikeouts led the team.

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2016 Bowman Draft #BD-59
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  2020-25
Favorite 2025 Card:  2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards
Total Cards in My Phillies Collection:  5 as of 12/29/25, 4 added in 2025

TCDB Stats:  3,455 total as of 12/29/25, my 15 cards overall are ranked 475th, 1st is 18blue78 with 555

Complete Chachi Checklist

2025 Topps #15

2025 Topps #61 - NLDS Game 2

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

2025 Chachi #14 Johan Rojas 

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2025 Chachi #16 Aaron Nola

NLDS Game 2 - Too Little, Too Late in Latest Loss

 

Los Angeles Dodgers	4
Philadelphia Phillies	3

Monday Night, October 6th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Dodgers lead series, 2-0

One Sentence Summary:  The offense continued to sputter and the bullpen again couldn't get the job done in this 4-3 loss to the Dodgers.

What It Means:  The Phillies head to Los Angeles where they need to win both games in order to force a Game 5 back in Philadelphia on Saturday night.  I could insert a lengthy rant here, but I've already spent too much energy trying to figure out why this team has crapped out two years in a row in the NLDS.

What Happened:  Jesus Luzardo was fantastic.  He matched Blake Snell through six scoreless innings, departing with runners on second and third and no outs in the top of the seventh, after Teoscar Hernandez singled and Freddie Freeman reached on a double that should have been a single, if not for Nick Castellanos playing in right field.  (Castellanos is only playing because Harrison Bader injured his groin in Game 1.)  Orion Kerkering entered, allowed both inherited runners to score, and yielded to Matt Strahm.  Shohei Ohtani greeted Strahm with a single and just like that it was 4-0, Dodgers, and given the anemic Phillies offense, the game was all but over.

Snell held the Phillies to one hit through six innings, a bloop single from Edmundo Sosa with two outs in the fifth.  The Phillies had a chance once they got to the Dodgers' bullpen, as pinch-hitter Max Kepler tripled and was singled home by Trea Turner with Emmet Sheehan on the mound in the eighth.  In the ninth, with Blake Treinan pitching, Alec Bohm singled, followed by back-to-back doubles from J.T. Realmuto and Castellanos to make it 4-3, Dodgers.  An odd decision to have Bryson Stott bunt with nobody out and Castellanos on second backfired when Stott bunted into a fielder's choice to erase Castellanos from third.  A few batters later, with runners on the corners and two outs, Roki Sasaki got Trea Turner to weakly ground to second, ending the threat and the ballgame.

Featured Card:  Turner, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are a combined 2 for 21 in the first two games of the NLDS with 11 strikeouts.  Five of those strikeouts belong to Schwarber, who is 0 for 7.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

2025 Chachi #60 NLDS Game 1 / 2025 Chachi #62 NLDS Game 3

Game 68 - Luzardo Rebounds to Pitch Phils to Win Over Cubs

Chicago Cubs	2
Philadelphia Phillies	7

2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Wednesday Afternoon, June 11th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
39-29, 2nd Place, 5 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo made an adjustment, course correcting after two horrendous starts, and striking out 10 Cubs batters in this 7-2 win.

What It Means:  That's more like it.  The Phillies started to dig themselves out of their self-imposed hole, taking two out of three from the Cubs after their deflating weekend sweep by the Pirates.  The Blue Jays come to town next for three games.

What Happened:  Luzardo improved to 6-2, pitching six innings and allowing a run on five hits.  He didn't walk a batter.  The Phillies went up 3-0 in the first, getting clutch hits from Max Kepler (two-run double) and J.T. Realmuto (RBI single) with two outs.  Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run in the third, and Alec Bohm added a two-run single in the fourth.  Bohm would homer in the seventh, his sixth of the year, giving the Phillies a comfortable lead for the first time in what seemed like forever.  Bohm is batting .359 (14 for 39) so far in June, with a double, a home run and seven RBIs.

Featured Card:  Here's Luzardo's first baseball card featuring him actually wearing a Phillies uniform, from the somewhat rare 2025 team-issued photo card set.

Transaction:  In need of bullpen reinforcements, Michael Mercado (rhp) was recalled from Lehigh Valley and Carlos Hernandez (rhp) was designated for assignment.  In 25 games with the Phillies, Hernandez was 1-0 with a 5.26 ERA with 23 strikeouts and 13 walks in 25 2/3 innings pitched.

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Game 42 - Luzardo, 'Pen Handle Cards in Game One

St. Louis Cardinals	1
Philadelphia Phillies	2

Game 1

2025 Topps Heritage #478

Wednesday Afternoon, May 14th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA

25-17

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo improved to 4-0 and the Phillies plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning to take the matinee end of a double header against the Cardinals.

What It Means:  Tuesday's rain-out necessitated the doubling up on Wednesday with Luzardo opting to start the earlier game.

What Happened:  Luzardo allowed a run on five hits while striking out six in his latest win.  Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering and Jordan Romano held the Cardinals scoreless over the final three innings.  Kerkering worked out of one-out, runners at second and third situation in the eighth, inherited from Jose Alvarado.  Romano struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.

In the bottom of the seventh, three straight singles from Weston Wilson, Rafael Marchan and Bryson Stott tied the score at 1-1.  Bryce Harper singled home Marchan with the eventual winning run.

Featured Card:  Here's Luzardo's first Phillies card, from the recently released Topps Heritage set.  Luzardo is wearing a Marlins uniform here, but Topps photoshopped him into a road Phillies jersey and hat.

Transaction:  Daniel Robert (rhp) was added to the roster as the club's 27th man for the double header.  He was optioned back to Lehigh Valley following the nightcap.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 2 - Luzardo Deals, Offense Mashes in Win

Philadelphia Phillies	11
Washington Nationals	6

2020 Topps Opening Day #105

Game 2

Saturday Afternoon, March 29th

Nationals Park - Washington, DC
2-0, 1st Place, 1/2 game ahead of the Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo struck out 11 and earned the win in his Phillies debut, while Kyle Scharber and Brandon Marsh both hit three-run home runs in this 11-6 win.

What It Means:  Luzardo's 11 strike outs tied him for second most in a Phillies debut, as Jim Bunning also struck out 11 in 1964, and Garrett Stephenson (!) struck out 12 in 1997.  The Phillies go for the series sweep this afternoon behind Aaron Nola.

What Happened:  Luzardo's only blemish was allowing a two-run home run to Keibert Ruiz in the second inning.  He allowed five hits and walked a pair over five innings.  The non-high leverage pitchers from the Phillies bullpen - Jose Ruiz, Carlos Hernandez, Joe Ross - all allowed runs, making this game closer than it needed to be.

The Phillies tied the game at 2-2 thanks to Bryson Stott's two-run home run in the fourth.  Stott had doubled in his first at-bat.  They took the lead for good in a five-run sixth inning, bookended by a bases loaded walk to Edmundo Sosa and Schwarber's second home run of the season.  Marsh hit his blast in the seventh, giving the Phillies a 10-3 lead.

Sosa was in the line-up as Trea Turner was a late scratch with back stiffness.

Featured Card:  Luzardo will need to wait a bit for his first Phillies baseball card, and here's one of his rookie cards from 2020 Topps Opening Day.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

Spring Training Game 6 - Luzardo Dazzles in Spring Debut

Boston Red Sox	5
Philadelphia Phillies	7

2021 Topps Heritage #160

Spring Training Game 6

Friday Afternoon, February 28

BayCare Ballpark - Clearwater, FL

Record - 3-2-1

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies won, but the exciting take-away from this game was how dominant starter Jesus Luzardo looked in his two innings of work.

What It Means:  The sun was out for most of the afternoon, the weather is warming up, and I got to work with a Phillies game on in the background.  Not a bad day.

What Happened:  Luzardo made it look easy, throwing two perfect innings and striking out a pair.  14 of his 19 pitches thrown were strikes.  The other pitching highlight came courtesy of Jean Cabrera, who also threw two scoreless innings, striking out three.  The other eight Phillies pitchers used by manager Rob Thomson allowed a combined 13 walks, which isn't great.  Michael Mercado and Aaron Schulfer led the way with three walks each.

Bryce Harper went 2 for 3 in his return to the line-up.  Matt Kroon, Carson DeMartini and Carson Taylor all homered in the win.

Featured Card:  DeMartini's blast was particularly impression as it nearly cleared the center field berm, and the young prospect took a moment or two to enjoy his blast before heading to first.  He's in last year's Bowman Draft set, and I've not added any of his cards to my collection yet.  I was going to feature a DeMartini card, if I had had one, but instead Luzardo gets the nod for his impressive debut in red pinstripes.

Camp Head Count:  66

2024-25 Offseason - Merry Christmas!

2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC32

2024 Topps #101

2024 Topps #445

2024 Choice Jersey Shore BlueClaws #8

I'm already doing a better job keeping this blog active throughout the offseason, as the last few years it sat mostly dormant between November and February.  As we get ready to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a much-needed winter break, here's a look at the Phillies news from the past month.

Hays Non-Tendered:  On November 22nd, the Phillies non-tendered Austin Hays (of) making the short-timer a free agent.  Hays suffered through injury and illness in his time with the Phillies, appearing in just 22 games and batting .256 with a pair of home runs.  He was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the NLDS.  Hays' first (and only?) Phillies baseball card can be found in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set.

Romano Added to Bullpen:  On December 9th, the Phillies added All-Star reliever Jordan Romano (rhp) to their bullpen, signing him to a one-year deal for $8.5 million.  An All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023, Romano appeared in only 15 games last season following an elbow injury.  He had saved 36 games each of the two seasons before that.

Rule 5 Results:  The Phillies selected Mike Vasil (rhp) in the annual rule 5 draft and then almost immediately traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.  In the minor league portion of the draft, the Phillies lost Eiberson Castellano (rhp), the franchise's most recent Paul Owens Award winner for minor league pitcher of the year, to the Twins.  Castellano had pitched as high as Double-A Reading in 2024.

Phils Add Kepler:  Seeking a corner outfield upgrade for 2025, the Phillies signed Max Kepler (off) to a one-year deal on December 20th.  Besides having one of the cooler cards in the 2024 Topps set, Kepler batted .253 last season with eight home runs and 42 RBIs.  He had played in 10 seasons with the Twins, enjoying a career year in 2019 when he connected for career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (90).  Kepler is expecting to receive significant playing time in left field.

Luzardo Added to the Rotation:  Just when we thought the Phillies were done making major moves for the year, they announced a big trade with the Marlins the Sunday before Christmas.  Jesus Luzardo (lhp) and Paul McIntosh (c-of) were acquired from Miami for minor league prospects Starlyn Caba (ss) and Emaarion Boyd (of).  Luzardo joins a stacked rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez, with Andrew Painter a possibility to join the rotation at some point over the summer.  Luzardo is under team control through the 2026 season.  Caba and Boyd had been ranked as the fourth and 23rd top prospects in the Phillies' system by MLB.com.  Tyler Gilbert (lhp) was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Luzardo.

Ross Joins Bullpen:  And one more amendment . . . On December 23rd, the Phillies signed free agent Joe Ross (rhp), who spent last season with the Brewers.  Before that, Ross pitched in six seasons with the Nationals.  Ross can relieve and start, but given the already crowded starting pitching rotation, I'm assuming he'll be yet another bullpen piece.  To make room on the 40-man roster for Ross, Jose Cuas (rhp) was designated for assignment.  Cuas had been claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in early September.

2024 Topps #123

2024 Choice Pensacola Blue Wahoos #17

2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP-164

2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-2

2024 Topps Update #US135

There have also been a flurry of minor league signings by the Phillies, but I'll wait until they issue an official list of spring training non-roster invitees before writing further about any of those new players.

Merry Christmas everyone, and here's to a healthy, happy and safe 2025.  We've got this.