Jesus Saves.

This season, Jesus Luzardo has saved the Phillies. He has thrust himself into the Cy Young race along with Cristopher Sanchez and is regarded as one of the game’s elite hurlers.

Bryan DeLa Cruz and Derek Hill have played their part, too. Bryce Harper has had a record-breaking August.

They all have played a major role in the Phillies surge toward a top Wild Card spot, as well as staying within striking distance of Atlanta for the division.

Luzardo’s surging performance has helped offset Zack Wheeler’s struggles.

Jesus Is Just All Right With Me ... Since June 10, Luzardo has had an ERA of 1.90. In August, he has a 3–0 record with 46 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

But Luzardo’s success began in June when he was 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA, and he followed that with a 3-1 mark and a 2.59 ERA in July.

He’ll begin this week with a 12-5 record and a 3.03 ERA. His 203 strikeouts are second overall in the league, a strikeout ahead of Sanchez.

Luzardo finished 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA, and he recorded 216 strikeouts a year ago. It was only his second double-digit win season and first since he was 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA with Miami in 2023.

Greased Wheel ... Facing the hapless Angels probably was the best remedy for Wheeler.

His splitter, sweeper, and curveball seemed to be working well, but his fastball still isn’t where it should be. Yet, Wheeler was stingy, allowing a run and four hits. Some of his six strikeouts were very timely, and he issued three walks over a 108-pitch effort. It was good to see him finish the sixth inning.

This arguably was his best outing since he allowed two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and two walks against the Dodgers. However, walks continue to plague him. Wheeler has 18 walks in August compared to 20 walks combined in May, June and July.

He’ll face a major test when he pitches against the Braves this coming weekend.

Is He Elite? ... With his productive August, Harper may be starting to peak at the right time.

Heading into Monday, Harper has reached base in 32 consecutive games. He is hitting .322 (29-93) with five homers and 13 RBIs. He has 31 walks in the month and an OPS of 1.063.

During June, Harper hit .305 with seven homers, 20 RBIs, and 18 walks.

Currently, he is hitting .266 with 27 homers, 77 RBIs, 97 walks, and an .888 OPS.

Last season, Harper hit .265 with 27 homers, 75 RBIs, 70 walks, and an .844 OPS.

It will be interesting to see if Harper can keep the pace in the final month of the season and in the postseason.

No Dumbrowksi Moves ... It looks more and more that Phillies head boss Dave Dombrowksi made the right moves with Derek Hill and Bryan DeLa Cruz instead of trading for an experienced power-hitting right fielder. The consequential trade for Luis Arraez has capped it off.

In his 34 games with the Phillies, Hill is hitting 268 with five homers and an OPS of .841. He has been a valuable pinch-hitter and defensive replacement.

DeLa Cruz is hitting .357 with two homers and an OPS of .941 in 21 games. Like Hill, De La Cruz has been invaluable in a bench role.

You can also throw in Edmundo Sosa, who single-handedly took apart the Angels. In his last 29-plate appearances, Sosa has 15 RBIs. He also has been a priceless part of the Phillies bench.

New Kid On The Block ... Has anyone noticed rookie Alex McFarlane’s positive presence in the bullpen?

With Jonathan Bowlan and Jhoan Duran unable to pitch Sunday, McFarlane threw a hitless inning.

Since he allowed a run and a hit in his debut on Aug. 11, McFarlane has issued just three hits without a run over his next seven appearances with nine strikeouts and five walks. His walks have been the only issue.

Bye George? ... When he burst onto the scene Aug. 3, Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr. quickly attained star status with a home run and a slick double play.

Well, that has been short lived.

Lombard Jr. recently made Yankees history when he made an error in six consecutive games, and became the first Pinstriper shortstop to achieve the infamous mark since Roger Peckipaugh in 1915, and the first Yankee infielder since Chick Fewster did in 1921 at second base.

Luckily, the streak ended last Friday.

The 21-year-old, who was viewed as the solution to Anthony Volpe’s fielding errors, committed nine errors in 49 games at Scranton Wilkes-Barre. He had eight defensive runs saved in his first 11 games with the Yankees.

Volpe made four errors in 56 games with the Yanks this season after he had a league-high 19 last season.

Heading into Sunday, Lombard Jr. was hitting .253, while Volpe was hitting. 217.

The two are expected to be the middle infield combination for the Yankees next year.

Rich Get Richer? ... The Mets recently waived outfielder Luis Robert Jr, who has been injured most of the season and also has been a disappointment with his 10-homer, 23 RBIs, and 53 strikeouts in 153 at-bats.

Whatever team picks him up will be responsible for his $5 million price tag.

The hottest rumor has been, who else? The Dodgers.

LA’ s outfielders have struggled and have been injured this season, and Robert’s bat could prove to be a valuable acquisition.

With Hill and De La Cruz, the Phillies don’t have room for him.

As for the Mets, Juan Soto will be back soon from his calf injury to play in September.

Fish Staying In The Pond ... You have to wonder why Angels outfielder Mike Trout wants to stay with the franchise. The Angels are in the running for the league’s worst record with the Rockies and the A’s, and there appears to be little hope there in the near future.

If you caught any views of the stands during the Phillies’ broadcasts, you noticed plenty of empty seats. The Angels have been announcing paid crowds and not actual ones all season.

Trout has a no-trade clause on his $425,000,000 deal that will end in 2030 when he will be 38. It looks like he will stay with the franchise and go down as their greatest player ever.

And what happened to the A’s who were once in first place?

Wheels Are Turning ... In a recent Times News Facebook poll, questions were posed on Wheeler’s condition.

Should he be kept in the rotation? Should he miss a start or two? Should he be taken out of the rotation? Or should he be shut down for the season?

An overwhelming 61 percent believed Wheeler should stay in the rotation, 33 percent stated he should miss a start or two, none of them said he should be taken out of the rotation, and six percent believed he should be shut down for the season.

Readers Write

He Can Work It Out

Dear Jeff,

The (Phillies) left Painter and Nola in to figure it out. Unless he is hurt, they should let Wheeler figure it out, too.

Matt Solt

The Name Game ... Before they begin play, there are 20 teams in Williamsport’s Little League World Series. It isn’t just two teams.

Should officials consider renaming it the Little League tournament or playoffs? Once you get down to two teams, you can name it the World Series.

By the way, have you watched any games?

Tommy Terrific ...The Marlins recently honored former Phillies first baseman/outfielder Tommy Hutton, who will retire after 28 years on their broadcast team.

The 80-year-old Hutton is the team’s color analyst. He began in 1997 and served until 2015. He took a break and returned in 2022.

Hutton played with the Phillies from 1972-77, and he hit. 253 in 651 games. He was known for his pinch-hitting prowess, as he amassed 52 career pinch-hits with the Phillies. Hutton also had notable success against Tom Seaver, hitting a career .320 against him.

Aside from the Phillies, Hutton had stops with the Dodgers — with whom he broke into the majors in 1966 — Blue Jays, and Expos. In 952 games over 12 years, Hutton hit .253.

When he was released in early September of 1981 by the Expos, Hutton was offered a position in the broadcast booth.

Scrapbook ... In each column, I will review the career of a former standout from the area.

A three-year letterwinner, Logan Wentz was a catcher and first baseman for Lehighton. In his sophomore year, Wentz hit .288 with 15 hits, and he hit .207 his senior season.

Wentz went to play two seasons at Mansfield University, and he hit .357 his sophomore year.

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com

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