The slumping Phillies face a crucial June 2025 series vs. the Cubs. Can they recover as ace Jesus Luzardo's ERA balloons to 4.46 after a disastrous sweep?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just a short time ago, the Phillies looked like one of the teams to beat. Now, reeling from a disastrous weekend sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates and having lost seven of their last ten games, the team is desperately searching for answers. The margin for error has shrunk, the division lead has vanished, and a formidable Chicago Cubs team is rolling into town for a massive series.
In his last two starts, new ace Jesus Luzardo has surrendered 20 earned runs in just 5.2 innings, with opponents batting a staggering .583 against him.
The most alarming development for the Phillies is the sudden and catastrophic collapse of their prized acquisition, Jesus Luzardo. After a brilliant start to his Phillies career, posting a 2.15 ERA over his first 11 starts, Luzardo has been unrecognizable. In his last two outings, he's been shelled for 21 hits and 20 earned runs in a combined 5.2 innings. That abysmal stretch has caused his ERA to more than double, skyrocketing from a tidy 2.15 to a bloated 4.46. For a team counting on him to be a rotation anchor, this sudden vulnerability is a massive red flag.
Luzardo's struggles are a symptom of a larger team-wide malaise. The weekend sweep by the Pirates, which included a 2-1 loss Saturday and a gut-wrenching 5-4 walk-off defeat on Sunday, showcased all the team's recent problems. The defense has been shaky, the bats have gone silent in key situations, and the bullpen has failed to lock down games. This collective slump has seen the Phillies slide 1.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East standings, a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in baseball.
There's no soft landing spot for the struggling Phils. Today they host a tough Chicago Cubs team that boasts a slightly better record at 38-22. The Phillies (37-23) will need to find their footing quickly against a quality opponent. In an interesting quirk, both teams come into the series with identical 18-11 records on the road and at home, respectively. After dropping six of their last seven, the Phillies need to defend their home turf and prove this recent slide is an aberration, not the new norm.
The Phillies are at a critical juncture. The recent skid, highlighted by the sweep in Pittsburgh, has exposed cracks in the foundation, from the mound to the plate to the field. Today's game against the Cubs isn't just about winning; it's about proving this team has the resilience to fight through adversity and stop the bleeding. A strong performance could steady the ship, but another loss could deepen the early-summer anxiety. All eyes will be on Citizens Bank Park at 3:45 PM.
