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Phillies Scratch Jesus Luzardo for Saturdays Game Against Braves, Opt for Bullpen
On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Phillies announced that left‑hander Jesús Luzardo would not start Saturday’s showdown with the Atlanta Braves. Manager Don Mattingly explained the move to reporters in the Philadelphia Inquirer, citing a lingering stiffness in Luzardo’s throwing shoulder that left the pitcher “still not quite there” after a light bullpen session on Friday.
According to Mattingly, Luzardo felt he could take the mound but was unable to “get loose” during the brief outing. The manager emphasized the team’s cautious approach: the shoulder injury “doesn’t appear to be too serious,” but the Phillies prefer to avoid a lingering issue that could sideline their workhorse.
Luzardo, who has been a cornerstone of the rotation this season, was slated to start at Truist Park. He has logged 178 ⅔ innings—fourth in the majors—and thrown 2,870 pitches, third league‑wide. His last five starts included three of the team’s highest pitch counts, notably a 109‑pitch complete‑game shutout against the Braves on Monday.
With the rotation already stretched, the decision to rely on the bullpen comes at a crucial juncture. Luzardo’s next scheduled start is a few days later, with Monday’s off‑day providing extra rest. After the Braves series, Philadelphia will head to Washington for a two‑game set against the Nationals before opening a four‑game stretch with the Mets on Thursday.
The Phillies’ playoff hopes are under scrutiny. The club sits five games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and has lost the season series to the division leader. Even a win against the Braves would not secure a third straight division title. In the wild‑card race, both the Cubs and the Phillies are tied at 82‑66, with Chicago holding the tiebreaker for the top spot.
Luzardo’s performance this year earned him a first‑career All‑Star nod. He posted a 2.87 ERA and strong secondary metrics over his first 178 ⅔ innings, matching the 5.5 fWAR he recorded in 2025. Philadelphia signed him to a five‑year, $135 million extension in March, a move lauded as a shrewd investment.
The shoulder concern is not Luzardo’s first. In September 2023, he spent 15 days on the injured list with left‑elbow tightness while with the Miami Marlins; the issue resolved after a brief stint on the disabled list.
Despite Luzardo’s absence, the Phillies boast a deep bullpen capable of handling the workload. The relievers have performed well in recent weeks, and Mattingly expressed confidence in the group’s ability to keep the Braves’ offense in check.
The Braves, meanwhile, have added right‑hander Tyler Mahle to their rotation. Mahle, in his second season with Atlanta, has posted a 4.96 ERA for the season but has shown improved performance in recent starts, including a 2.82 ERA over four starts in July.
Saturday’s game proved to be a high‑scoring affair. The Braves tied the game in the ninth, then again in the tenth and eleventh, ultimately walking it off in the eleventh inning. The Phillies’ bullpen struggled to hold the lead, and the loss added to the team’s mounting pressure.
In summary, the Phillies have scratched Jesús Luzardo from Saturday’s start due to shoulder stiffness that left him unable to “get loose” in a bullpen session. The team will rely on its bullpen for the game against the Braves, with Luzardo expected to return in a few days. The Phillies’ schedule will see them travel to Washington and then to New York for a four‑game series. The team’s playoff prospects remain uncertain, with the NL East race and wild‑card standings both highly competitive.
The next game for the Phillies will be a two‑game series against the Nationals in Washington, followed by a four‑game stretch against the Mets. The team’s focus will be on managing Luzardo’s workload, keeping the bullpen healthy, and staying competitive in the tight NL East and wild‑card races.
According to Mattingly, Luzardo felt he could take the mound but was unable to “get loose” during the brief outing. The manager emphasized the team’s cautious approach: the shoulder injury “doesn’t appear to be too serious,” but the Phillies prefer to avoid a lingering issue that could sideline their workhorse.
Luzardo, who has been a cornerstone of the rotation this season, was slated to start at Truist Park. He has logged 178 ⅔ innings—fourth in the majors—and thrown 2,870 pitches, third league‑wide. His last five starts included three of the team’s highest pitch counts, notably a 109‑pitch complete‑game shutout against the Braves on Monday.
With the rotation already stretched, the decision to rely on the bullpen comes at a crucial juncture. Luzardo’s next scheduled start is a few days later, with Monday’s off‑day providing extra rest. After the Braves series, Philadelphia will head to Washington for a two‑game set against the Nationals before opening a four‑game stretch with the Mets on Thursday.
The Phillies’ playoff hopes are under scrutiny. The club sits five games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and has lost the season series to the division leader. Even a win against the Braves would not secure a third straight division title. In the wild‑card race, both the Cubs and the Phillies are tied at 82‑66, with Chicago holding the tiebreaker for the top spot.
Luzardo’s performance this year earned him a first‑career All‑Star nod. He posted a 2.87 ERA and strong secondary metrics over his first 178 ⅔ innings, matching the 5.5 fWAR he recorded in 2025. Philadelphia signed him to a five‑year, $135 million extension in March, a move lauded as a shrewd investment.
The shoulder concern is not Luzardo’s first. In September 2023, he spent 15 days on the injured list with left‑elbow tightness while with the Miami Marlins; the issue resolved after a brief stint on the disabled list.
Despite Luzardo’s absence, the Phillies boast a deep bullpen capable of handling the workload. The relievers have performed well in recent weeks, and Mattingly expressed confidence in the group’s ability to keep the Braves’ offense in check.
The Braves, meanwhile, have added right‑hander Tyler Mahle to their rotation. Mahle, in his second season with Atlanta, has posted a 4.96 ERA for the season but has shown improved performance in recent starts, including a 2.82 ERA over four starts in July.
Saturday’s game proved to be a high‑scoring affair. The Braves tied the game in the ninth, then again in the tenth and eleventh, ultimately walking it off in the eleventh inning. The Phillies’ bullpen struggled to hold the lead, and the loss added to the team’s mounting pressure.
In summary, the Phillies have scratched Jesús Luzardo from Saturday’s start due to shoulder stiffness that left him unable to “get loose” in a bullpen session. The team will rely on its bullpen for the game against the Braves, with Luzardo expected to return in a few days. The Phillies’ schedule will see them travel to Washington and then to New York for a four‑game series. The team’s playoff prospects remain uncertain, with the NL East race and wild‑card standings both highly competitive.
The next game for the Phillies will be a two‑game series against the Nationals in Washington, followed by a four‑game stretch against the Mets. The team’s focus will be on managing Luzardo’s workload, keeping the bullpen healthy, and staying competitive in the tight NL East and wild‑card races.
