Game 88 - Luzardo's Troubles Continue in Loss to Reds

Cincinnati Reds	9
Philadelphia Phillies	6

2025 Topps
Philadelphia Phillies #PHI-15

Friday Afternoon, July 4th

Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
51-37, 1st Place, 1/2 game ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Jesus Luzardo's inconsistency continued, as the Phillies dropped this series opening game to the Reds, 9-6.

What It Means:  Luzardo is a concern.  In his last seven starts, he's 2-5 with a 9.49 ERA in 30 1/3 innings pitched.  Prior to that, in his first 11 starts of the season, he had been 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 67 innings pitched.

What Happened:  And the Phillies spotted Luzardo a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an Alec Bohm sacrifice fly and a Nick Castellanos two-run home run.  The Reds would score nine runs off Luzardo and reliever Joe Ross in 4 2/3 innings, putting the game basically out of reach.  Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run double in the sixth, but the Reds' bullpen kept the Phillies off the board over the final three innings.

Featured Card:  Reds' left fielder Austin Hays went 1 for 5 in this game with an RBI double in the top of the third to tie the game at 3-3.  Hays was batting .281 though this game, and has had way more success with the Reds than he did during his short time with the Phillies last year.  Even though he was granted free agency on November 22, 2024, Topps included him in the retail Phillies team set this year.

Transaction:  Seth Johnson (rhp) was added back to the roster following Wednesday's double header and the struggling Mick Abel (rhp) was sent down to the IronPigs.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

2024 Chachi #53 Austin Hays

#9 / Austin Charles Bryan Hays / Left Field

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  5'11"  Weight:  200
Opening Day Age:  28

Born:  July 5, 1995, Daytona Beach, FL
Acquired:  Traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Phillies for Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache, July 26, 2024

Major League Teams:  Baltimore Orioles 2017, 2019-24; Philadelphia Phillies 2024

Postseason Appearances:  Baltimore Orioles 2023; Philadelphia Phillies 2024

2024 Topps Chrome
Update #USC32

Injuries and illness took a toll on Austin Hays following his acquisition from the Orioles in late July, and the left fielder ended up being a non-factor for the Phillies over the final months of the season and in the NLDS.  He went on the injured list for the first time on August 9th with a left hamstring strain.  Hays returned on August 27th, but went back on the injured list on September 7th, this time with a serious kidney infection.  Hays played in 22 games for the Phillies, batting .256 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs.  In the NLDS, Hays was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts against the Mets.  He was non-tendered by the Phillies on November 22nd, making him a free agent.

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2017 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP224
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (6):  2018, 2020-24
Favorite 2024 Card:  2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC32
Total Cards in My Phillies Collection:  3 as of 12/23/24, 3 added in 2024

Complete Chachi Checklist

2024 Chachi #53

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist

2024 Chachi #52 Cristopher Sanchez AS / 2024 Chachi #54 Michael Rucker

2024-25 Offseason - Merry Christmas!

2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC32

2024 Topps #101

2024 Topps #445

2024 Choice Jersey Shore BlueClaws #8

I'm already doing a better job keeping this blog active throughout the offseason, as the last few years it sat mostly dormant between November and February.  As we get ready to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a much-needed winter break, here's a look at the Phillies news from the past month.

Hays Non-Tendered:  On November 22nd, the Phillies non-tendered Austin Hays (of) making the short-timer a free agent.  Hays suffered through injury and illness in his time with the Phillies, appearing in just 22 games and batting .256 with a pair of home runs.  He was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the NLDS.  Hays' first (and only?) Phillies baseball card can be found in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set.

Romano Added to Bullpen:  On December 9th, the Phillies added All-Star reliever Jordan Romano (rhp) to their bullpen, signing him to a one-year deal for $8.5 million.  An All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023, Romano appeared in only 15 games last season following an elbow injury.  He had saved 36 games each of the two seasons before that.

Rule 5 Results:  The Phillies selected Mike Vasil (rhp) in the annual rule 5 draft and then almost immediately traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.  In the minor league portion of the draft, the Phillies lost Eiberson Castellano (rhp), the franchise's most recent Paul Owens Award winner for minor league pitcher of the year, to the Twins.  Castellano had pitched as high as Double-A Reading in 2024.

Phils Add Kepler:  Seeking a corner outfield upgrade for 2025, the Phillies signed Max Kepler (off) to a one-year deal on December 20th.  Besides having one of the cooler cards in the 2024 Topps set, Kepler batted .253 last season with eight home runs and 42 RBIs.  He had played in 10 seasons with the Twins, enjoying a career year in 2019 when he connected for career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (90).  Kepler is expecting to receive significant playing time in left field.

Luzardo Added to the Rotation:  Just when we thought the Phillies were done making major moves for the year, they announced a big trade with the Marlins the Sunday before Christmas.  Jesus Luzardo (lhp) and Paul McIntosh (c-of) were acquired from Miami for minor league prospects Starlyn Caba (ss) and Emaarion Boyd (of).  Luzardo joins a stacked rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez, with Andrew Painter a possibility to join the rotation at some point over the summer.  Luzardo is under team control through the 2026 season.  Caba and Boyd had been ranked as the fourth and 23rd top prospects in the Phillies' system by MLB.com.  Tyler Gilbert (lhp) was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Luzardo.

Ross Joins Bullpen:  And one more amendment . . . On December 23rd, the Phillies signed free agent Joe Ross (rhp), who spent last season with the Brewers.  Before that, Ross pitched in six seasons with the Nationals.  Ross can relieve and start, but given the already crowded starting pitching rotation, I'm assuming he'll be yet another bullpen piece.  To make room on the 40-man roster for Ross, Jose Cuas (rhp) was designated for assignment.  Cuas had been claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in early September.

2024 Topps #123

2024 Choice Pensacola Blue Wahoos #17

2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP-164

2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-2

2024 Topps Update #US135

There have also been a flurry of minor league signings by the Phillies, but I'll wait until they issue an official list of spring training non-roster invitees before writing further about any of those new players.

Merry Christmas everyone, and here's to a healthy, happy and safe 2025.  We've got this.

Game 103 - Phils Look Un-Lively; Acquire Hays for Dominguez, Pache

2018 Choice Lehigh Valley
IronPigs #15

Guardians 3, Phillies 1
Game 103 - Friday Night, July 26th in Philadelphia
Record - 64-39, 1st Place, 9 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Ben Lively and the Guardians' bullpen silenced the Phillies' bats in this 3-1 series opening loss.

What It Means:  The Phillies are suddenly not fun to watch.  They look as if they're pressing and I'm hoping they find their groove again soon.  The surging Mets are now in second place, a half game ahead of the Braves.

What Happened:  Lively improved to 9-6 with six strong innings, allowing just a fifth inning solo home run to Bryson Stott.  Stott had a three-hit night and Alec Bohm had a double, with the two through seven spots in the line-up going a combined 1 for 24.  Cristopher Sanchez dropped to 7-6, allowing all three Guardians runs on eight hits.

Featured Card:   Lively was designated for assignment in September 2018 by the Phillies and claimed off waivers by the Royals, when a roster spot was needed for Jerad Eickhoff.  He's since spent time with the Royals, in Korea and with the Reds, and he's been pitching well for Cleveland this season.

Transaction:  On Friday afternoon, the Phillies announced the first of possibly many trades in advance of Tuesday's trade deadline.  Austin Hays (of) was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Seranthony Dominguez (rhp) and Cristian Pache (of).  Hays is expected to see quite a bit of playing time in left field, with a likely platoon in center developing with Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh.  Hays was an All-Star in 2023, and he's batting .255 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 63 games this season.

Dominguez, the team's closer at one point, appeared in at least 50 games for the Phillies in 2018, 2022 and 2023.  In 230 games, he was 19-17 with a 3.55 ERA and 28 saves, with 16 blown saves.  Dominguez was a huge part of the Phillies' pennant-winning bullpen in 2022, and was the winning pitcher in NLDS Game 1 against the Braves and in World Series Game 1 agains the Astros.  I currently have 22 baseball cards for Dominguez in my Phillies Collection, dating back to his first appearance in 2016 in the Williamsport Crosscutters team set.  (It seems as if that number should be higher, but such is the fate of a reliever in today's baseball card sets.)

Pache had a few big highlights with the Phillies, but had largely struggled at the plate since joining the team right before opening day in 2023.  In 98 games with the Phillies overall, he batted .218 with a pair of home runs and 20 RBIs.  I've got six Pache cards in my Phillies Collection.

2024 Topps Heritage #13

2024 Philadelphia Phillies Kids Club

2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary #385

2024 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2024 Season Summary Index / 2024 Chachi Set Checklist