Jesús Luzardo has been added to the National League All-Star team as one of three pitcher replacements, giving the Philadelphia Phillies another midseason honor and marking the first All-Star selection of his career.
The move also gives the Phillies a sixth All-Star this season, a strong reflection of where the club sits at the break. Luzardo joins a group that already included five other Phillies players, and his selection comes with the added backdrop of the team preparing to host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
A strong first season in Philadelphia
The Phillies traded two prospects to the Miami Marlins for Luzardo ahead of the 2025 season, then extended him to a $135 million contract through the 2032 season. That commitment showed how much they believed in him as a rotation piece, and his first year in Philadelphia has backed that up.
In 18 starts this season, Luzardo has posted a 3.75 ERA. Even so, the deeper numbers point to a pitcher who may have been better than that run prevention suggests. He carries a 3.06 xERA, 2.96 FIP and 2.97 xFIP, which supports the idea that his underlying performance has been stronger than the surface stat line.
Part of a rotation that has driven winning
Luzardo’s selection also fits the broader story of the Phillies’ rotation. This season, the trio of Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Luzardo had a 36-14 record when they started games. That kind of production helps explain why Philadelphia has placed so many players on the All-Star roster.
The timing adds another layer, too. Luzardo’s All-Star nod comes in a season where Zack Wheeler was not selected, a decision that drew attention around the league. Wheeler’s agent called that omission “ludicrous,” underscoring how closely watched the Phillies’ pitching staff has become.
For Luzardo, though, the focus is simpler: he now has his first career All-Star selection, and he will head into the break with recognition that matches the impact he has made for one of MLB’s top teams.
