Jesus Luzardo will start Game 2 for Philadelphia in the NLDS against the Dodgers, with a possible Game 5 on the line. He closed the regular season strong and has postseason experience, though his early-key playoff numbers aren’t dominant. The Phillies plan to lean on bullpen leverage and keep Nola or Suarez in reserve for emergencies. Ranger Suárez will be ready in relief for Game 1, and Aaron Nola could provide length if needed. The decision crystallizes how far Philadelphia is willing to push its rotation and bullpen depth in a tight series.

The matchup forces a careful blend of pitching depth and late-inning arms. Luzardo’s late-season form gives Philadelphia a chance to control the tempo, while Suárez’s postseason pedigree offers a stabilizing second option. Nola’s reliability remains a hedge, as the team weighs a potential longer series and the need for depth in high-leverage situations.

Two heavyweight NL powers collide as the Dodgers defend their title against a Phillies club determined to end postseason heartbreak. Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Snell anchor Los Angeles’ rotation, while Philadelphia navigates Wheeler’s injury and leans on Sanchez, Suarez, Luzardo, and Nola to carry the load. The series centers on tempo: Phillies must extend at-bats and blunt LA’s starters, while the Dodgers look to turn their bullpen into a stabilizing force in tight late innings.

Key strategic edges: the Phillies’ grind-it-out approach to force longer at-bats to fatigue the Dodgers’ rotation, and the Dodgers’ bullpen reliability in high-leverage moments. The outcome will hinge on how well each team executes game plans once the starters exit and how bullpen missteps are avoided or exploited. Saturday’s start looms as a marquee showdown.

Phillies tune up for the NLDS with Luzardo and Nola tossing three scoreless innings in a seven-inning intrasquad at Citizens Bank Park, a rare public showcase that featured real umpires, walk-up music, and 31,000-plus fans. Rob Thomson lined up Turner and Stott in the middle infield, checked Turner’s hamstring, and projected a rotation anchored by Cristopher Sánchez for Game 1, while Suárez was held back but declared ready. The session also aimed to clean up defensive miscues and sharpen fundamentals after a September with 12 errors.

The event underscored depth and strategy: a quick hook for starters, a bullpen-ready posture, and a strong emphasis on defense and execution. It also highlighted the club’s postseason energy, the public’s enthusiasm, and the sense that Philadelphia is treating this as a full playoff environment, building confidence for a deep run.