​Phillies’ Jesus Luzardo finally earns national respect amid ESPN ranking originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Philadelphia Phillies traded for Jesus Luzardo during the 2024-2025 offseason and then extended him this past offseason to a $135 million five-year deal.He got off to a very rough start to the year this season, but since then has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. Luzardo is an incredible starter, and recently finally earned some respect nationally.ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that the Phillies left-hander should be in the same company as Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler as “undeniable aces,” and that Luzardo should be considered one of the best pitchers in baseball.Jesus Luzardo earns national respect amid ESPN ranking and high praise”31. Jesus Luzardo, SP, Philadelphia Phillies. … Sanchez and Wheeler are undeniable aces. Luzardo belongs in that conversation with them,” Passan writes. “… Everything is there for him to be one of the best pitchers in baseball.”Luzardo has flown under the radar this season, as his start to the year left a lot to be desired. Through the first eight starts of the season, he had a 5.77 ERA with a 2.92 FIP. He was clearly better than his ERA indicated, but he was overlooked.In the next 16 starts for Luzardo, he’s gone exactly 100 innings with a 2.25 ERA and 119 strikeouts. Those kinds of numbers over the course of a full season would easily make him a Cy Young candidate, if not the favorite.MORE: Dave Dombrowski reveals why Phillies didn’t trade for a righty-hitting outfielderLuzardo has a 3.32 ERA this season with 4.4 bWAR and a 10-5 record. Those are solid numbers, but it’s not an eye-catching stat line or feat like what Wheeler and Sanchez have done this season.While Sanchez had a 50 2/3 inning scoreless streak, and Wheeler was dominating after returning from thoracic outlet syndrome, Luzardo flew under the radar as the superstar starter he really is.But with Passan’s glowing praise of Luzardo and his 31st ranking among all MLB players this season, Luzardo is finally earning some respect nationally for how great he’s been in 2026.More MLB news:Phillies receive slightly worrying 65% playoff odds projection from ESPNRed Sox get 8.2% chance to win World Series, which is more than Yankees’ oddsDodgers prospect Kendall George to undergo knee surgery months after viral bat dog incidentEx-MLB GM wishes Braves had traded 22-year-old RHP prospect for Orioles’ All-Star Trevor RogersBrewers ‘toyed’ with idea of trading for Padres closer Mason Miller