Luzardo looking good, ready for season

Jesús Luzardo is bringing a new look to the mound in 2021.

The A’s left-hander has ditched his glasses -- a signature look dating to his Little League days -- for contact lenses. After his impressive 4 1/3 scoreless innings in Monday’s 4-4 tie with the D-backs at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., Luzardo expanded on why he decided to lose the specs.

“It was definitely weird in the beginning. But now, it’s just so much easier not having to worry about them in case they fog up or whatever it is,” Luzardo said. “I’d much rather pitch without them now. It’s easier for me and I definitely like it more.”

Luzardo decided to make the full-time change to contacts during the offseason. But he's looking to change more than just his look this year.

Coming off an up-and-down rookie campaign in which he posted a 4.12 ERA and flashed his impressive high-90s fastball with 59 strikeouts in 59 innings, the 23-year-old Luzardo is focused on developing consistency over the course of a full season. Part of that development comes in figuring out ways to get the job done without his best stuff on a given day, and that was the case on Monday.

Not feeling a good command for his breaking ball, Luzardo resorted to throwing mostly fastballs and changeups against the D-backs. Pitching into the fifth inning for the first time this spring as he continues to build his workload, Luzardo found a way to keep Arizona off the scoreboard. He allowed just three hits with three strikeouts and one walk, which is a signal to him that he is ready for the regular season to begin.

“My pitches are up and my arm feels good,” Luzardo said. “Today, not all my pitches were working, but when I’m able to work around that and get outs without those pitches, that means I’m ready to go.”

With scoreless appearances in two of three Cactus League starts, Luzardo will pitch one more time this spring, though manager Bob Melvin said that could come in a simulated game against A’s hitters. That’s one more opportunity to prepare for the big step Luzardo is aiming for in 2021 as the possible anchor of Oakland’s starting rotation.

There’s still work to be done for Luzardo, mainly continuing to improve the different variations of breaking balls in his arsenal, which he believes will give him a better chance at finishing off hitters this season.

“Getting into the fifth inning today was huge,” Luzardo said. “I’ll gladly take another start to tune up my stuff.”