The Phillies pitching staff has been the unluckiest in baseball

TL;DR

The Philadelphia Phillies' pitching staff has the worst luck in baseball, with a 4.92 ERA despite ranking second in fWAR. Their underlying metrics suggest they are performing better than their results indicate, leading to a disappointing start to the season.

Key points

Phillies' pitching staff has a 4.92 ERA, 5th worst in MLB
They rank 2nd in fWAR, indicating strong underlying performance
Luzardo's ERA jumped to 7.94 after a poor outing
The team has the largest gap between ERA and FIP in baseball
Phillies pitchers strike out 26.2% of batters, 3rd highest in MLB

Philadelphia PhilliesChicago CubsToronto Blue JaysSeattle Mariners

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 15: Jesús Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after multiple errors during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on April 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images For most of a season that, in the grand scheme of things is still in its infancy, most of the angst directed at the Phillies has been towards an inconsistent and maddening offense. That, of course, makes sense. After all, it has been the lineup that has torpedoed four attempts by this talented team to win a World Series. But in the three-game series the Phils just wrapped up against the Cubs, the pitching staff gave up 28 runs, capped off by Jesus Luzardo’s astonishing implosion Wednesday night:

5.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 4 K Through 18 games, this vaunted pitching staff’s ERA stands at 4.92, 5th-worst in Major League Baseball. Only the Cardinals (4.94), White Sox (5.02), Nationals (5.89) and Astros (6.17), have been worse. They have allowed a league-high .272 batting average against them. Phillies’ pitchers are every bit as responsible for their -25 run differential that is 3rd-worst in the league.

Q&A

Why do the Phillies have the unluckiest pitching staff in baseball?

The Phillies' pitching staff has a 4.92 ERA but ranks second in fWAR, indicating they are underperforming based on their underlying metrics.

What is the significance of the Phillies' 1.86 difference between ERA and FIP?

This difference is the largest in baseball, suggesting that the Phillies' pitchers are not getting the results their performance metrics would predict.

How does Jesús Luzardo's recent performance impact the Phillies' pitching stats?

Luzardo's poor outing, with a 7.94 ERA, contributes to the team's overall struggles, despite his FIP indicating he has pitched better than his results show.

What are the current statistics for the Phillies' starting pitchers?

Cristopher Sanchez leads with a 2.01 ERA, while Luzardo has the highest ERA at 7.94, indicating a wide range of performance among the starters.