Sometimes, all it takes is one game to transform the mood inside a team. Not a blowout, not a walk-off, just the kind of win that looks like a collective exhale—where Jesús Luzardo turns in his sharpest outing of the season and the Phillies finally look like themselves again. But on a day when the pitching clicked and the bats showed signs of life, not every review after the postgame presser rang with relief. A core Phillies hitter provided an honest reflection that cut through the good vibes—a quiet reminder that this team still has work to do.

Luzardo had every reason to press. Coming off a brutal stretch in which he gave up 20 earned runs over the previous two starts, the pressure was rising—and fast. However, against the Cubs, Luzardo responded like an elite pitcher. Six innings, ten strikeouts, no walks, and just one earned run highlighted a story of a sharp turnaround. He abandoned his basic sinker entirely, tweaked his pitch selection, and focused on command. “It’s a sense of relief,” he said, which is a clear sign that the adjustments were not just physical; they were mental too.

While his bounce-back caught the spotlight, Alec Bohm’s comments after the game quietly transformed the narrative. The third baseman, who drove in four runs, including a solo homer, was not completely satisfied. “I just think the big hit has been kind of avoiding us a little bit,” Bohm said, referencing the offense’s current inconsistency. Despite the win, Bohm’s statements highlighted a larger issue: the team’s inability to consistently capitalize in big moments, and when the scoreboard reads 7–2, those missed chances still sting.

That statement did not come out of nowhere. The Phillies had just snapped a three-series losing streak, during which their offense went cold at the worst possible times. Before breaking out in Game 3, the team managed just three extra-base hits across the first two games. So while the Phillies got timely contributions from Schwarber, Castellanos, Turner, and Bohm himself, whose warning highlighted that the team is not out of the woods.

Such honesty from a $7.7 million star is rare, but valuable. However, as Bohm’s on-field value continues to rise, it is not just internal reflection that is catching the spotlight. Outside Philadelphia, the star’s name is gaining traction in a distinctive kind of conversation altogether.

Tigers eye Alec Bohm as deadline trade prize 

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Tigers have zeroed in on the talked-about star in Philadelphia—Alec Bohm. After a sluggish beginning to the year, he has flipped the script since May 1, batting .328 and turning heads with his consistent approach at the plate. That rise, mixed with his .986 fielding percentage at third base, puts the third baseman near the top of the Tigers’ wish list. They are actively looking to solidify the hot corner, and he provides short-term production and long-term value.

What makes the star more attractive? Team control. Still in Bohm’s second year of arbitration, he is under contract through 2026, providing the Tigers more than just a rental. For a team establishing itself as a serious postseason contender, acquiring a star with Bohm’s upside and cost-effectiveness could be a game-changer. The star’s steady glove and effective bat provide exactly the stability the Tigers need to make a push at third base.

The team has not featured a primary third baseman since Jeimer Candelario, who played most games at the position from 2018 to 2022, and currently, they have added Colt Keith at third base. The Tigers are clearly desperate to fill the gap. While no deal involving Bohm is imminent, trade chatter has begun to heat up, and his name is squarely in the mix.

Bohm has delivered on the field; however, his honesty after the game and increasing trade buzz prove Bohm’s impact reaches far beyond the batter’s box. As the Phillies weigh their playoff hopes against looming roster decisions, his value, as a leader and a target, has never been more evident.

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