Phillies Activate Jesus Luzardo, Ending the Jose Urquidy Era Just in Time for October

The Philadelphia Phillies are getting their ace back just in time for October, which means the Jose Urquidy era has officially reached its merciful end.

MLB Trade Rumors reported Sunday that Philadelphia activated Jesus Luzardo from the injured list and designated Urquidy for assignment. This is the exact type of late-September roster math that makes a fanbase breathe a massive collective sigh of relief.

Luzardo hit the shelf a couple of weeks ago with left shoulder inflammation, pausing a monster season where he racked up 14 wins, a 2.87 ERA, and 221 strikeouts. When your All-Star lefty goes down right before the playoffs, panic is the only logical response.

To stop the bleeding, the Phillies had grabbed Urquidy off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Relying on a guy who posted a 5.28 ERA this year to anchor a playoff push is like trying to patch a leaking submarine with a piece of chewing gum. He was a necessary innings-eater for a depleted staff, but nobody was rushing to the window to bet the Phillies on the moneyline with him taking the mound.

Now, the rotation is back to being a terrifying problem for the rest of the National League. Slotting a healthy Luzardo back in next to Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola gives Philadelphia the kind of top-tier pitching depth that actually wins short series.

The Phillies wrap up their regular season against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night. If Luzardo looks sharp and the shoulder holds up, Philadelphia instantly becomes the team nobody wants to see in a five-game series.