Revisiting Jesús Luzardo's best starts as a Marlin

Raised in Broward county, Jesús Luzardo grew up a Marlins fan. "Getting in this position is something I can't put into words, and it really hasn't hit me yet," said the lefty back in 2023 before he started Miami's first playoff game in a full season in twenty years. "So, hopefully, down the road it does, but so far, I'm just enjoying the ride and trying to make it last as long as possible."

That ride was prolonged when previous trade talks fell through and Luzardo suffered a lengthy injury, but it came to an end Sunday morning when he was traded to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies along with OF/C Paul McIntosh in exchange for SS Starlyn Caba and OF Emaarion Boyd.

Luzardo was hyped yet unaccomplished when the Marlins acquired him in 2021. Since then, he has turned in some stellar outings to establish himself as a desirable piece of any MLB rotation. Here are five times when he flashed front-of-the-rotation potential.

October 2, 2021

Final line: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 SO, 0 HR, 87 NP

A little over two months after being acquired by the Marlins, Luzardo took the mound for his final start of an up-and-down 2021 campaign against his now-teammates, the Phillies. He was being hindered by command struggles in his first couple of outings in August and September, but his finale was a preview for what ended up being a breakout 2022 season.

Due to a significantly improved fastball, Luzardo sat down 11 Phillies, including Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto twice. Even better, he allowed zero free passes for the first time as a Marlin.

While Luzardo only went 5 ⅓ innings, it was enough momentum to notch Miami's 66th win of the season in 3-1 fashion.

April 12, 2022

Final line: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO, 0 HR, 76 NP

When I said Luzardo carried the success in his final start in 2021 into 2022, I wasn't kidding.

Breaking camp behind Elieser Hernández as the number five starter in a deep Marlins rotation, Luzardo made a statement in his first start in his second year in Miami against a star-studded Angels squad.

Luzardo set a then career-high in strikeouts at 12, displaying serious swing-and-miss stuff with his slider, which collected 12 out of his 28 whiffs.

Miami’s bullpen crumbled in the late innings and inevitably allowed a walk-off fielder's choice, but Luzardo’s dominance against a team like Los Angeles showed his development was on schedule.

August 7, 2022

Final line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 0 HR, 91 NP

A left forearm strain sidelined Luzardo for most of the summer, hindering Marlins fans a chance to see their potential star in a lost season. A Sunday afternoon start at Wrigley Field was Luzardo's second start off the IL, which made what he accomplished all the more impressive.

For the first time as a Marlin and only the second time in his career, Luzardo completed seven innings and allowed just one hit en route to a 3-0 Marlins win. The southpaw displayed exceptional command and great control of his changeup.

This start was a good omen of what was to come, as Luzardo went seven strong again just two weeks later and once more in September.

July 23, 2023

Final line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 13 SO, 1 HR, 115 NP

Luzardo's second start after the All-Star break came in what was arguably the most must-win game for a Marlins team in a long time.

Heading into the Midsummer Classic, the Fish had the fourth-best record in all of baseball. Exhilarating and close wins were the calling card for a squad who was surpassing all expectations. Then, the second half started.

Sweeps in St. Louis and Baltimore sent Miami into a spiral, and when the lowly Rockies came into town and took the first two games of their set, manager Skip Schumaker needed length from his starter.

In return, Luzardo delivered the best start of his career.

Luzardo was masterful, setting new career-highs in strikeouts with 13 and pitches with 115. Due to his offense sputtering yet again against a mediocre Rockies staff, Luzardo was put in high-leverage moments where it almost felt a playoff berth was on the line.

The most memorable of these moments came in the bottom of the seventh with runners on the corners and Miami clinging on to a one-run lead. In what ended up being his final pitch of the day, Luzardo did this:

May 22, 2024

Final line: 8,0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR, 100 NP

Due to bonafide ace Sandy Alcantara missing all of the 2024 season with Tommy John surgery, Luzardo was the Opening Day starter and expected leader of an undermanned rotation. Alas, much like the team around him, Luzardo struggled in March/April with a 6.58 ERA and 5.09 FIP.

May, though, was a complete 180. Luzardo allowed just five earned runs the entire month. The most impressive start of not only that stretch, but his final season as a Marlin, came against the contending Brewers.

Coming off a minor left elbow injury, Luzardo wasn't too much focused on velocity, instead "emphasizing location."

"I'm focused." Luzardo said postgame. "The location and my misses had been really good, which is something that me and Mel (Stottlemyre Jr.) talked about a lot. Just emphasizing location over velocity."

The decision worked out well for Luzardo, as the new ace got through eight shutout innings for the first time in his career. The rare "pitch to contact" Luzardo only tallied four strikeouts, however he only needed 100 pitches to get through a potent Brewers order and lock up an impressive series win.

 "I think since he's come off the IL, it's the best version," said his manager. "He's in a groove."