The Phillies pose the most significant threat to the Atlanta Braves’ NL East dominance.
Yes, the Mets recently signed Juan Soto, which is an issue, but New York still has a lot of work to do until they have a complete squad. Meanwhile, the Phillies are returning the majority of their roster, which has given the Braves fits for several years.
Part of the Phillies’ recent success can be attributed to their rotation. Unfortunately, Zack Wheeler is one of baseball’s best pitchers; Aaron Nola is a reliable #2 option behind him, and both Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez have been fairly good. It’s incredibly aggravating, but Philly knows how to pitch.
However, the Phillies recently made a trade with the Marlins for Jesus Luzardo, which could create a tiny window of opportunity for the Braves to capitalize.
Braves stand to benefit from Jesus Luzardo trade if Phillies’ gambit doesn’t pay off
So much for the Phillies not making any more significant additions this summer, but that could really benefit the Braves here. Luzardo is a quality pitcher who demonstrated that talent in 2022 and 2023 in Miami, where he frequently missed bats and produced a 3.48 ERA over 50 starts.
However, Luzardo has only tossed more than 100 innings in two seasons due to elbow and back injuries that he has been dealing with for several years. In 2024, his strikeout rate plummeted to a career-low 7.8 K/9 as he faced with more ailments. For the majority of his career, he has struggled to find the strike zone consistently and keep the ball in play.
Given that Philly had to give up their #4 and #23 prospects to land Luzardo, this could end up being a massive win for the Braves. Luzardo’s injury history does not inspire much confidence and if the Phillies used real trade chips for a guy that ends up giving them a 5-6 ERA in the rotation in limited action, Atlanta fans certainly aren’t going to complain.
However, if Luzardo is correct and he is finally healthy and ready for Opening Day, the Phillies may have discovered a way to fortify a strong position, and the Braves may have their hands full once more.
