How do you make a first impression? If you're Jesús Luzardo, you show up after nine and a half months away from a big-league mound, strike out 11 batters in five innings, and get a handshake from Bryce Harper like you’ve been here forever.
Luzardo’s dazzling Phillies debut on Saturday had history written all over it. The only other pitcher to ever strike out more batters in his first game with the Phillies? That would be Garrett Stephenson, who punched out 12 in 1997 against the Cardinals. You might remember that game. Or, if you don’t, Luzardo just gave you a reason to look it up.
Of course, Luzardo’s night wasn’t completely spotless. He gave up five hits and two runs—both coming on a second-inning homer by Keibert Ruiz. But if Phillies fans were looking for a sign that this trade might work out, Luzardo delivered it in neon lights.
And then the Phillies’ offense did what it does best: waited, pounced, and put up a crooked number.
First, Bryson Stott’s two-run homer in the fourth evened the score at 2-2. Then, the floodgates opened in the sixth, when Nationals reliever Colin Poche loaded the bases with one out, handed the baton to Lucas Sims, and things unraveled from there. Sims walked in the go-ahead run, then spiked a wild pitch that allowed another run to trot home. And then came Kyle Schwarber.
Schwarber, who had moved back to the leadoff spot after batting cleanup on Thursday, launched a 1-2 pitch to right-center for a three-run blast. That five-run sixth turned a tight game into a 7-2 Phillies lead, and for good measure, Brandon Marsh added a three-run homer of his own in the seventh as the lead swelled to 11-3.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing. Trea Turner was scratched from the lineup with a back spasm, and J.T. Realmuto left in the seventh with a bruised left foot. But in the end, the Phillies rolled to an 11-6 win, Luzardo got a debut to remember, and Schwarber got to remind everyone that when the weather gets warm, he turns into a different hitter.
Three Key Takeaways
1. Brandon Marsh & Bryson Stott: From Opening Day Blanks to Game-Changers
Two days ago, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott were nowhere to be found in the hit column. On Saturday, they were everywhere. Five hits. Five runs. Two homers. Stott even added a pair of walks for good measure. If these two keep this kind of production rolling, the Phillies’ lineup just got a whole lot deeper.
2. Trea Turner Watch: Back Tightness Lingers
Turner was penciled into the original lineup, but by game time? Scratched. The issue? Back tightness. And according to reports, this isn’t new—it dates back to Clearwater. For now, he’s day-to-day, but back issues have a way of sticking around. Something to monitor. In the meantime, Edmundo Sosa stepped in, collected two hits, and scored a run. Not a bad fill-in performance.
3. Luzardo’s Heater: Faster and Nastier
So, what made Luzardo so dominant? Let’s start with that fastball. Last year, his four-seamer averaged 95.5 mph. On Saturday? 97 mph. That extra velocity, paired with movement, could be a lethal combination. It’s just one start, but if this is what the Phillies are getting, their rotation just got a whole lot scarier.
Quotable
“He’s awesome. He fits right in. He’s electric. Obviously, we saw him a lot [when he was with the Marlins]. It’s even more electric when he’s striking out 11 from a different team and not us.” - Bryson Stott on Jesus Luzardo, per MLB.com.
Phillies WPA (win probability added)
Bryson Stott did a little bit of everything in this one. Homered in the fourth to tie it at 2-2? Check. Doubled? Yep. Worked a pair of walks? Of course. Add it all up, and FanGraphs gave him a 0.38 WPA for his efforts. Meanwhile, J.T. Realmuto had a forgettable afternoon, going hitless in four at-bats (-0.12 WPA), plus he left early with the foot contusion. Baseball is cruel sometimes.
What's Next
The Phillies have a chance to break out the brooms on Sunday at Nationals Park. Aaron Nola will be on the mound, looking to finish off the three-game sweep. The Nationals, hoping to salvage the series, will send lefty Mitchell Parker to the hill. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.
