Major League Baseball announced Jesus Luzardo as a replacement player for the National League All-Star team at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old lefty earns his first Mid-Summer Classic appearance in his career, spanning eight seasons with stops in Oakland, Miami, and Philly.
Luzardo, Riley O’Brien, and Braxton Ashcraft replace Jacob Misiorowski, Max Meyer, and Paul Skenes. Much like Zach Wheeler, who is expected to start the Phillies' final game in Detroit before the All-Star break, the three replaced pitchers are scheduled for starts this weekend. Therefore, they would not be available to pitch for the N.L. head coach Dave Roberts on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA.
Luzardo is scheduled to pitch the series finale at Great American Ballpark this weekend. He enters his battle with Cincinnati featuring a 7-4 record and a 3.75 earned run average in 18 starts in 2026. Luzardo currently sits third in the N.L. with 125 strikeouts, trailing only teammate Cristopher Sanchez (137) and Misiorowski (167).
MORE: MLB All-Star Guide: Every event taking place in Philadelphia this weekend
The selection gives the Phillies their MLB-leading sixth representative at the 96th MLB All-Star Game. Luzardo joins Sanchez and Jhoan Duran on the National League pitching staff. Brandon Marsh earned a starting spot in the outfield for the N.L., while Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper should receive resounding receptions when they step up to the plate in South Philadelphia next week.
MLB All-Star Week festivities run from July 10 through July 14, including the Capital One All-Star Village at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The MLB All-Star Future Game takes place on Sunday afternoon (July 12), the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night (July 13), and the star-studded contest itself, the 96th MLB All-Star Game, takes place on Tuesday night.
Stay tuned to Metro Philadelphia for plenty of coverage of MLB’s biggest event of the summer next week.
