Phillies' Jesus Luzardo Joins Hall of Fame Company Amid Incredible Start

The only other pitcher to accomplish that feat was Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 1995. Luzardo joining Johnson as the only two lefties in the last 113 years to achieve that start to the year is an incredible feat.

Luzardo's latest start was against the Colorado Rockies, where he gutted out 6 innings, striking out 10, walking 3, giving up 2 hits, and 1 earned run. After his tenth outing of the year, Luzardo lowered his ERA below 2.00 and helped the Phillies win their fifth straight game.

On the year, the 27-year-old has a 1.95 ERA, 5 wins and 0 losses, and 60 innings pitched in 10 starts. He's struck out 67 batters, compared to just 18 walks. Luzardo leads all pitchers in baseball in WAR, with 2.9.

Among all pitchers in MLB in 2025, Luzardo is ranked 8th in ERA, 1st in win-loss percentage, 10th in strikeouts, and 7th in ERA+. According to ESPN's CY Young predictor, Luzardo is ranked first in the National League, with fellow Phillies ace Zach Wheeler in second.

Luzardo, being in the same company as Johnson and one of the best left-handed pitchers ever, is a sign of how great he's been in 2025. Thirty years later, Luzardo is having a similar start to the year that Johnson did in 1995.

In 1995, Johnson was incredible. He won the Cy Young, was named an All-Star, and was sixth in MVP voting. Johnson went 18 and 2 with a 2.48 ERA, striking out 294 batters and walking just 65.

Luzardo has a long way to go if he wants to match Johnson's 1995 season. But, he's the only other pitcher in MLB history with a start to the year as good as Johnson's from a left-handed pitcher.