Feb 28, 2025; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Kim Klement Neitzel
The Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers will have something to say about it, but with the offseason addition of Jesús Luzardo, the Phillies may very well have the best starting rotation in baseball in 2025.
Luzardo made his Phillies Spring Training debut Friday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox, and if you didn't previously appreciate how big of a pickup he could be, the 27-year-old gave you an idea.
Luzardo hit 97.7 mph on a first-inning sinker, an encouraging sign after an injury-riddled 2024 season with the Miami Marlins. Over two innings, he generated six swing and misses, while holding the Red Sox hitless and using just 20 pitches:
Jesús Luzardo looking good today in Clearwater 💪
pic.twitter.com/nflmmbYSgW
After the game, J.T. Realmuto seemed bullish on the starting rotation he's going to have the chance to work with in 2025.
"I feel like we have a No. 1 and maybe four No. 2s," Realmuto said, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Realmuto was seemingly referring to Zack Wheeler — who leads all MLB pitchers with a 24.7 WAR since joining the Phillies in 2020 — as the No. 1. If Wheeler isn't the best starting pitcher in baseball, he's certainly in the top five — and probably not No. 5.
Beyond Wheeler and Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez was an All-Star and got some down-ballot NL Cy Young Award votes last year after posting a 3.32 ERA over 181 2/3 innings. He's bulked up even more ahead of his age-28 season, which may allow him to add even more velocity.
Cristopher Sánchez is consistently hitting 98 mph with his sinker. That pitch averaged 94.5 mph last year, for what it's worth. @OnPattison
Ranger Suárez wasn't right in the second half of last season, but has a 3.27 ERA across 537 innings over the last four seasons. The Scott Boras client is particularly motivated to have a big season in 2025 as this is his contract year.
Somehow, Aaron Nola — probably the most durable pitcher of this era — has kind of become the forgotten man in the starting rotation. He will be looking to buck a recent trend of struggling in odd years in 2025, but always seems to log close to 200 innings. At his best, he's finished seventh or better in NL Cy Young Award voting on three occasions.
Realmuto obviously didn't mean any disrespect to Luzardo, Sánchez, Suárez or Nola when he suggested that Phillies could have "four No. 2s." Still, he might have been being too modest about this rotation. Wheeler, Nola and Luzardo have each pitched on Opening Day before. Sánchez and Suárez definitely would get the ball for some other teams to begin the season. The Phillies have one elite, elite ace. But if you rank the top 30 starters in baseball, you might have to put the entire Phillies rotation on the list.
Oh, and Andrew Painter is looming.
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