NLDS Game 2 Pitching Preview: Jesús Luzardo vs. Blake Snell

Game 2 is already must-win territory for the Phillies after coughing up a three-run lead in the opener. Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, it’s Jesus Luzardo vs. Blake Snell, a battle of lefties with two very different stories heading into this start.

Blake Snell: The Dodgers’ Road Problem

On paper, Snell’s 2025 season looks Cy Young worthy: 2.35 ERA, nasty stuff, and the ability to make lineups look helpless.

The Phillies know it too. Outside of Bohm, Realmuto, and a couple of random Sosa/Stott at-bats, the roster hasn’t done squat against him. Turner, Schwarber, and Harper are a combined 1-for-11 lifetime, though they’ve at least drawn walks.

Snell’s home/road split is ridiculous.

At Dodger Stadium, he posted a 1.17 ERA. Away from L.A. that turns into a very hittable 4.30 ERA. His last couple of road starts included a gem in Arizona and a meltdown in Pittsburgh, so you never really know what you’re getting when he leaves Hollywood.

At Citizens Bank Park, he’s had three career starts with the Padres:

• 2021: 4 innings, 0 runs (but against Vince Velasquez, so whatever).
• 2022: Roughed up for 4 runs in less than 5 innings, Phillies win.
• 2023: 5 shutout innings, 7 Ks.

In the postseason, Snell has a 3.23 ERA but rarely pitches deep. Even in Tampa’s 2020 run, he never lasted past the sixth inning. If the Phillies can push his pitch count early, they’ll force Dave Roberts back into that suspect Dodgers bullpen.

Jesús Luzardo: CBP’s Quiet Ace

The Phillies counter with Jesús Luzardo, who quietly thrives in South Philly.

Jesús Luzardo held a 4.16 ERA at Citizens Bank Park this season which looks meh until you dig deeper. One disaster outing against Milwaukee inflated that number. You remove it, and his home ERA drops to a strong 3.13 across 15 starts.

Jesús Luzardo’s strength is balance.

He’s not Ranger Suárez-level in the postseason yet, but he pounds the strike zone and keeps games manageable. Against a stacked Dodgers lineup, the mission will be to keep traffic off the bases, limit walks, and let the Phillies’ defense work behind him.

Rob Thomson is holding Ranger Suárez for Game 3 on the road, which actually makes sense. Ranger’s been better away from CBP this year (2.84 ERA vs. 3.54 at home) and owns a career 1.43 ERA in October. That leaves Jesús Luzardo as the guy who needs to stabilize this series before Philly heads to L.A.

Must Win Game 2 for the Phillies

Snell will rack up strikeouts but he doesn’t go deep. Luzardo doesn’t need to be perfect, he just needs to keep the Dodgers in check long enough for the Phillies to chase Snell and get into that bullpen.

Game 1 slipped away. Game 2 is where the Phillies have to flip momentum back, and it starts with Luzardo matching Snell pitch for pitch.

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