Phillies looking at pitch usage in diagnosing Jesús Luzardo’s struggles

About that sinking feeling from Jesús Luzardo’s rough beginning to the season …

The Phillies think it’s rooted in his sinker.

In 22⅔ innings through four starts, Luzardo has given up 20 earned runs on 28 hits. Rock bottom may have come Wednesday night when the Cubs knocked him around for nine runs on 12 hits, his worst start since May 31 of last season.

Luzardo was adamant after the game that he wasn’t tipping pitches and said he’d do a deep dive with pitching coach Caleb Cotham — maybe a snorkel? — to identify the problem.

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Eureka? Maybe.

“The only thing we’re looking at is just [pitch] usage,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday before the Phillies opened a three-game series against the rival Braves. “The two-seam, he used it a lot more. His three worst games since he’s been here, the two-seam has jumped up. Just something we’re looking at.”

Luzardo threw 25 two-seamers, known colloquially as a sinker, out of 98 pitches against the Cubs. It was the most sinkers that he threw in any start since Oct. 3, 2022, with the Marlins.

And the Cubs teed off, hitting six sinkers at more than 95 mph. Four of those were hits, including both of righty-hitting Matt Shaw’s doubles.

“I think you can go through bouts where you might be over-gameplanned a little bit,” Cotham said. “You’re pitching to the hitter; you’re not pitching to your strengths. He has done good work on the sinker. I think it is a better pitch. But his changeup is also a lot better.”

The changeup remains Luzardo’s primary off-speed pitch to right-handed hitters. But it typically complements a riding four-seam fastball. He shied away from that elevated heater after the Cubs ambushed two first pitches for hits, including Nico Hoerner’s fifth-inning homer.

Maybe Luzardo will lean back on his four-seamer and changeup Tuesday night when he faces the righty-heavy Cubs again at Wrigley Field?

“It all flows through him establishing the up-and-in fastball on righties and the changeup off that,” Cotham said. “I think maybe it got a little predictable, and look, the Cubs, that’s a good offense. They make you throw the ball over the plate, and they can do damage.

“But from a decision-making standpoint, you get to decide what pitches you throw. He’s got good stuff. I think it’s just making hitters not be able to sit on one thing in one spot, and when he’s rolling, that’s what he’s doing.”

Cotham agreed with Luzardo that it’s not a matter of tipping pitches. When he got hit hard in back-to-back starts last season, the Phillies found a glitch in his delivery that caused him to inadvertently give away what was coming.

“Nothing points to that,” Cotham said. “I think, processwise, he’s in a really good spot.”

Cotham said he expects Zack Wheeler will be ready to join the Phillies’ rotation after one final minor-league start Sunday for double-A Reading in Bridgewater, N.J.

“I think he’s ready,” Cotham said. “Really close, if not ready.”

In that case, Wheeler figures to slot into the rotation next weekend in Atlanta.

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Wheeler, four starts into a minor-league assignment in his return from surgery last September to treat thoracic outlet syndrome, had his best fastball velocity yet Tuesday night in a start for Reading. He sat 93-94 mph and topped out at 95.

“I think that last start, if you watch it, it was like, yeah, that’s really Zack,” Cotham said. “The breaking ball was good. Bread-and-butter heaters, mixing sweepers, and throwing the other stuff when he needs to. That was really good. He was making a lot of really good pitches. That’s him.“

Wheeler is expected to get to about 90 pitches Sunday after throwing 72 in his previous start.

Justin Crawford moved up to the No. 8 spot in the order Friday night against Braves lefty starter Martín Pérez. The rookie center fielder batted ninth in his 16 previous starts.

The change is designed to free up Crawford to run more often by creating more distance between him and Kyle Schwarber in the No. 2 spot. As a left-handed hitter, Schwarber prefers that a runner stays at first base to keep a hole on the right side of the infield.

Crawford, among the fastest players in the majors, had only two steal attempts entering the weekend despite reaching base at a .345 clip.

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It’s notable that Felix Reyes, a promising right-handed hitter who isn’t on the 40-man roster and lacks a clear position, is getting playing time in left field in triple A. It’s a work in progress. “He needs some reps,” Thomson said. “That’s for sure.” Reyes, 25, was batting .316 with four homers and a .908 OPS through Thursday. … Righty reliever Jonathan Bowlan (groin) threw from 75 feet; fellow reliever Zach Pop (calf) played catch. Both are eligible to be reinstated from the injured list on April 28. … In a nationally televised matchup of ace lefties, Cristopher Sánchez (2-1, 2.01 ERA) will face the Braves’ Chris Sale (3-1, 3.27) at 7:15 p.m. Saturday on Fox.

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Gage Wood might have pitched the best game in college baseball history 10 months ago. Now, with Andrew Painter in the majors, Wood is the Phillies’ top pitching prospect. The 22-year-old righty joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his strong start to the season. Watch here.

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