If his 2026 MLB season didn’t confirm it already, analysts agree that Jesús Luzardo is a certified beast and that the Phillies rotation is not to be taken lightly.
On SportsCenter, MLB insider Buster Olney followed Luzardo's gem vs. Atlanta by going on record with his statement that the Phillies' starting rotation could be the most dangerous in the postseason.
"Teams are scared to death about playing the Phillies in a postseason series ... because they would have to face [Zack] Wheeler and [Christopher] Sanchez, and yes, Jesús Luzardo."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 7, 2026
—@Buster_ESPN on the Phillies' rotation as the postseason approaches ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/9ISoIglqsH
If that isn’t enough to get you excited for the playoffs, I don’t know what will. Watching the Phillies’ third starter carve up the Braves on Monday, tossing nine shutout innings of two-hit, 12-strikeout ball, was exciting in its own right. But the realization that the Phils could be entering the postseason with the best starting rotation in baseball is enough to get anyone amped.
How Jesús Luzardo and Phillies rotation stack up vs. other NL playoff hopefuls
The three-headed monster of Sanchez, Wheeler and Luzardo — mixed in with a resurgent Andrew Painter — is certainly in contention for best in the National League. In consideration as well are the Dodgers, Brewers and Cubs.
Yes, for yet another season, the Dodgers continue to trot out a dominant rotation on a daily basis. And that’s without Shohei Ohtani’s coveted right arm on the mound. The Dodgers still have a 1-2-3 punch of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Oh yeah, and don’t forget they traded for Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. Los Angeles might have the Phillies beat when it comes to pitchers, but it’s closer than one might think.
The Brewers have a sneaky good rotation. Headlined by dominant Cy Young contender Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee sports two underrated hurlers in Kyle Harrison and Logan Henderson, though Harrison's role is a bit more nebulous these days. The Brew Crew also added a solid righty in Dustin May at the trade deadline. The Phillies, though, have more top end talent in their rotation which gives them the edge over the Brewers.
The Cubs, while they don’t have a clear-cut ace, boast sneaky good consistency from 1-to-4 in their rotation. Up there with Aaron Nola for one of the most durable pitchers in the majors, Kevin Gausman, who was dealt to Chicago from the Blue Jays, isn’t pitching as well as he was in his prime, but he’s still punching out a batter an inning. Following Gausman is innings-eater Shota Imanaga, former Met Clay Holmes and Matt Boyd.
While some teams’ rotation falls off after the second or third pitcher, Chicago has a sense of stability with four experienced pitchers who can step up in big moments. Even still, the Phillies rotation would have the upper hand if the teams were to meet up in the playoffs.
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