Jesus Luzardo wraps breakout Miami Marlins season as finalist for Gold Glove Award

Jesus Luzardo’s breakout year with the Miami Marlins could come with some hardware.

The left-handed pitcher is a finalist for a Gold Glove Award, Rawlings announced Wednesday afternoon. The Philadelphia Phillies’ Zack Wheeler and Taijuan Walker are the other two National League pitchers up for the honor.

Luzardo, 26, had an MLB-leading seven defensive runs saved among pitchers this season, according to Baseball Info Solutions. His four pickoffs were tied for fifth in the National League, and the Marlins caught 27 percent of baserunners (four of 15) attempting to steal bases with Luzardo on the mound.

The Marlins have only had one Gold Glove-winning pitcher in franchise history: Mark Buehrle in 2012. Eight Marlins players overall have won Gold Gloves: catcher Charles Johnson (1995, 1996, 1997), second baseman Luis Castillo (2003, 2004, 2005), first baseman Derek Lee (2003), third baseman Mike Lowell (2005), Buerhle, left fielder Christian Yelich (2014), second baseman Dee Strange-Gordon (2015) and left fielder Marcell Ozuna (2017).

The defense, however, is just one aspect of Luzardo’s improved game. He made all 32 scheduled starts this season for the first time in his career. His 208 strikeouts are the most in a single season by a Marlins left-handed pitcher and his 178 2/3 innings shattered his previous career-high of 100 1/3. Even with the extended workload, Luzardo still pitched to a 3.58 ERA — just slightly above his 3.32 mark last season — and held opponents to a .239 batting average against.

With ace Sandy Alcantara sidelined down the stretch with a UCL sprain in his right elbow that ultimately led to Tommy John surgery, Luzardo assumed the role as Miami’s top pitcher down the stretch of their playoff push and started Game 1 of their wild card series against the Philadelphia Phillies.