With six players chosen, the Phillies lead all 30 MLB teams in All-Star selections for the season. The club is set to host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, which means Luzardo will get to experience his first All-Star Game in front of his home fans.
Cristopher Sanchez is seen as a leading candidate to start the All-Star Game, now that Misiorowski is unavailable. Luzardo and Duran could also see action on the mound during the game.
Background on Luzardo
The Phillies long anticipated that Jesus Luzardo would become an All-Star, a belief that helped drive the club to trade two prospects to acquire the pitcher from the Miami Marlins prior to the 2025 season. The team subsequently signed Luzardo to a $135 million extension through the 2032 season.
His first season with the Phillies has been solid. In 18 starts, Luzardo has posted a 3.75 ERA. Advanced run-prevention metrics suggest he could be a frontline starter, with a 3.06 xERA, 2.96 FIP, and 2.97 xFIP indicating strong underlying performance beyond traditional ERA.
Luzardo has been a crucial part of a productive trio in the Phillies’ rotation, alongside Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler. The trio has been particularly effective, contributing to a 36-14 Phillies record in games started by those three pitchers.
Remaining All-Star considerations
Even with Luzardo’s selection, another Phillies starter has not been included in the All-Star selections: Zack Wheeler. Given Wheeler’s start schedule, his absence from an All-Star selection is likely, despite strong performance and the franchise’s hosting status. Discussions about Wheeler’s All-Star snub have circulated among fans and observers, reflecting the broader debate over how teams’ pitchers are represented at the midseason showcase.
