Jesús Luzardo, defense continue to be issues for Phillies in series-clinching loss to Cubs

PHILADELPHIA – There's been a lot on the shortcomings of the Phillies offense early on in 2026. In Wednesday's 11-2 series-clinching loss to the Chicago Cubs, two other concerning trends reared their ugly heads. 

As part of a three-run top of the third inning for the Cubs, J.T. Realmuto made a poor throw to third base in an attempt to throw out Nico Hoerner. Still, it probably should have at least been stopped by Alec Bohm at third base. It wasn't. Trea Turner, backing Bohm up, tried to get up and throw the ball after making a sliding stop, but in the process it kicked into left field. This allowed Hoerner to score and Alex Bregman to advance to third base. Realmuto was charged with the error, but Luzardo still allowed three runs — two of which were earned — in the frame. 

Rob Thomson said after Tuesday's loss that there were "some things that we need to clean up, some fundamental things." A throw down to third base on a stolen base attempt — and backing it up cleanly – would seem to fall under that category. 

The problem for Luzardo is it isn't like it was that one ugly defensive sequence that doomed an otherwise splendid start. The Cubs hit him hard all night, with Thomson seemingly not having a quick enough trigger on him considering the Phillies have an off day tomorrow. 

Across 5 1/3 innings pitched, Luzardo gave up 12 hits and nine runs, eight of which were earned. So much was made last year about how three really bad starts clouded a mostly excellent season for Luzardo. Well, he's now allowed five or more earned runs in three of his starts this season. There's no reason to think Luzardo won't round back into form, but it's been a concerning start to the season after the Phillies rewarded the lefty with a five-year/$135 million extension in Spring Training, a pact that will begin in 2027. 

Jesús Luzardo has given up five or more earned runs in three of his first four starts of 2026. 

He only gave up five or more earned runs in four of 32 starts in 2025.

— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) April 15, 2026 at 8:35 PM

Meanwhile, the Phillies bats didn't do much in a loss that dropped them to 8-10 on the season. Turner led the game off with a 423-foot home run, but Shota Imanaga shut the Phillies down the rest of the evening. Across six innings, Imanaga allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out 11. Bryce Harper hit an opposite-field home run in the bottom of the ninth inning off of Luke Little, but that didn't mean much of anything. 

Thursday will be a much-needed off day for the Phillies, who have lost four of the first six games on this nine-game homestand. They'll welcome in the division-rival Atlanta Braves for a three-game weekend set beginning Friday. 

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