MIAMI -- Much of the discussion surrounding the midweek series between the Twins and Marlins at loanDepot park revolved around the possibility of Pablo López and Luis Arraez crossing paths after being traded for each other in January.

With Arraez getting the day off for Wednesday’s rubber match, the title bout wound up being a pitchers’ duel between former rotationmates López and Jesús Luzardo. Though neither received a decision in the Marlins’ 5-2 victory, both dominated opposing batters. Luzardo and López each allowed just one run over seven innings.

That’s exactly what López told Luzardo they should do when they spoke on Tuesday. Luzardo wasted no time texting him back postgame.

“‘We made it a pitchers’ duel,’” Luzardo wrote. “‘Good job. I’m proud of you.’”

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A big reason that the Marlins were willing to deal López was because of the strides Luzardo took in 2022. Once he returned from a nearly three-month stint on the injured list with a left forearm strain, Luzardo compiled a 3.03 ERA across 12 starts. In eight of those outings, he went at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer.

Starting opposite the pitcher he replaced as the club’s No. 2 starter, Luzardo fanned 10 batters for his fifth career double-digit-strikeout performance (four of which have come since the beginning of the 2022 season). Six K's came via his slider.

“I really don't try to think about it any different,” Luzardo said. “I feel like I'm just one of five. I don't necessarily think I'm [No. 2] of five. I'm just another one of the starters. I think everyone has an important role -- whether you're the first guy to go or the last guy to go. Everyone wants to go out there and pitch as long as they can and keep the team in the ballgame. I don't really try to put my mind on that.”

The 25-year-old Luzardo faced the minimum through three and didn’t allow a baserunner to reach scoring position until his 24-pitch sixth inning. Luzardo had to dig deep at that point, as Michael A. Taylor singled, then stole second with one out. With first base open, catcher Nick Fortes visited the mound to discuss how to attack Carlos Correa. Luzardo was careful with his pitch selection, and Correa walked -- the only free pass issued by Miami’s lefty. After Donovan Solano reached on an infield hit to load the bases, Jose Miranda flied out to center to end the threat.

Left-handed-hitting Trevor Larnach, however, ended Luzardo's scoreless bid as he notched the game-tying RBI single in the seventh, lining a hit past shortstop Jon Berti’s reach.

“It shows [that] when he throws his ball in the strike zone, he's really difficult to hit," manager Skip Schumaker said. "And I've said it all Spring Training: I just feel like he's ready to take the next step in his career, and [a] really good start to the season for him.

“Tough lineup, all-righty lineup pretty much besides one lefty and a switch-hitter, and some real dudes in that lineup, too. Proud of how he was on the attack the whole day. He just gave us a chance to win the game, and that's all you can ask for out of Jesús right there. It was great.”

Through 12 2/3 frames across two starts, Luzardo has allowed just that one run. Though Luzardo walked four batters last Friday in his season debut, he held the Mets scoreless over 5 2/3 innings in Schumaker’s first managerial victory.

Less than 24 hours after ace Sandy Alcantara’s shutout, Luzardo followed it up with another gem. Bryan De La Cruz hit the go-ahead two-out RBI single in the eighth, while Jorge Soler slugged two homers to end Miami’s first homestand 3-4.

“He’s got tremendous stuff,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Luzardo. “I think he hides the ball well. He’s got a good, fast arm. These are two of the better pitchers. They’re throwing the ball well the last two days. It really puts you to a good test.”

“Obviously, I know what Luzardo’s capable of,” said López, who struck out eight. “I know I’ve seen him throw, develop into [the] pitcher who he is today, and I know he’s got more to give, more to get better at.

"We talked a lot yesterday about [how], 'It’s going to be a pitching duel. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to go out there and try to do our best.' And then [the] roof was open, so it made it more intense in a lot of different ways. I knew that I had to come with my best stuff.”