Luzardo logged 178 2/3 innings across 29 starts, posting career‑best marks: a 30.4% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate, 2.87 ERA and 48.3% ground balls. FanGraphs credits him with 5.5 WAR, ranking him fourth among qualified NL starters, behind teammate Cristopher Sánchez’s 6.2 WAR. For my money, his resurgence makes him a key piece in Philadelphia’s postseason push.
Arizona fell 10‑7 to San Diego, dropping to 86‑75, while Philadelphia sits at 87‑74. A Phillies win tomorrow knocks the D‑backs out; a loss paired with an Arizona victory sends the Phillies packing, as Arizona holds the divisional tiebreaker.
With a four‑game skid, the Phils have scrambled their rotation. Aaron Nola took the mound on two days’ rest, lasted just one inning and surrendered three earned runs on four hits, including a Junior Caminero homer. The club would have preferred to save Wheeler for Wild Card Game 1, but now he may have to pitch the regular‑season finale.
Should the Wild Card survive, the playoff staff needs sorting. Sánchez threw 100 pitches yesterday and could start Game 2 on regular rest—or Game 1 on short rest, a tempting alternative to Andrew Painter, who is sporting a 5.40 ERA over 126 2/3 innings. If Wheeler shines tomorrow, Luzardo stays fresh for Game 1, though his rust after a September 7 layoff adds uncertainty. Will the Phillies gamble on a rested Sánchez or stick with the veteran Wheeler?