The Philadelphia Phillies have scratched starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo from his scheduled start on Saturday. The lefty was expected to pitch in the second game of a crucial three-game series against the Atlanta Braves.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly announced the decision to scratch Luzardo from his start after Friday’s 6-5 loss to Atlanta.
Luzardo reported shoulder stiffness following his last outing, where he threw his first career complete game. The Phillies do not seem overly concerned with the injury, and Mattingly believes rest will help.
As of now, Luzardo being scratched appears to be more of a precautionary measure. He’s currently penciled in to make his next start next week, but the Phillies will keep an eye on his progress to ensure his health.
Luzardo has been one of the best pitchers in the MLB this season, and he only seems to be getting better. His complete game shutout against the Braves last week was one of the best outings a pitcher has had in 2026.
Luzardo is second in the National League in strikeouts with 221, behind only Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski (236). He has five double-digit strikeout games this season.
Luzardo will be a key piece for the Phillies when the postseason arrives, so the decision to ensure his health is no surprise. As long as this is something that will only delay this start and won’t affect the rest of his season, taking precautions is the way to go.
If this is an injury that lingers, that’s when the Phillies should get seriously concerned. If healthy, he has a real chance of being their game one starter in the postseason, even in a rotation with Cristopher Sanchez and Zach Wheeler.
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