Just In: Phillies hope Jesús Luzardo doesn’t suffer same fate as Ranger Suárez.

The Phillies are hoping Jesús Luzardo can avoid the same downturn that derailed Ranger Suárez’s promising 2024 season. Luzardo has been electric since joining Philadelphia, making a historic start to his 2025 campaign. According to MLB.com’s Paul Casella, Luzardo is now one of only three pitchers in franchise history—alongside Grover Alexander and Suárez—to begin a season undefeated with an ERA under 2.00 through his first 10 starts.

Acquired from the Marlins during the offseason to strengthen the back end of the rotation, Luzardo has exceeded expectations. The 27-year-old lefty hasn’t just stabilized the rotation—he’s shown signs of being a potential ace. This impressive run mirrors Suárez’s hot start in 2024 before injuries and inconsistency saw his season spiral downward. After his dominant first 10 outings last year, Suárez went 3-8 with a 5.10 ERA over his final 17 starts, plagued by a lingering back issue.

That’s why Philadelphia will be keeping a close eye on Luzardo’s durability. So far, health has been on his side, and his numbers are stellar: a 5-0 record, 2.15 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, only three homers allowed, 19 walks, and 77 strikeouts over 67 innings. Unlike Suárez, who dealt with physical setbacks down the stretch, Luzardo seems to have put last season’s elbow and back problems behind him.

If he can stay healthy, Luzardo could sustain this level of performance, which would be a major boost for the Phillies’ rotation. With Luzardo joining Suárez, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sánchez, Philadelphia boasts one of the most formidable starting staffs in the majors. Entering Monday, their rotation led the league in wins (22) and strikeouts (338), while ranking second in innings pitched (305) and fourth in ERA (3.22).

And with Nola expected to return from injury and potentially rebound from a rough start to the season, the Phillies’ rotation could become even more dominant. With Luzardo emerging as a fan favorite and frontline performer, the Phillies might be headed for an even better year than their strong 2024 campaign.