WASHINGTON, D.C. — For much of a typical Thursday evening in August, Jesús Luzardo looked similar to the pitcher he was at the start of the season. It was a glimpse of encouraging news for the Phillies, who over the next six weeks must choose the arms that they believe will withstand pressure-packed evenings in October.

Luzardo’s sweeper was sharp. He struck out the side swinging in the second — two on the sweeper, one on his fastball. He was backed by the defense and initiated a 1-4-3 double play that ended the sixth, leaving him looking to the sky and pumping his fists as he left the mound.

Luzardo was at 83 pitches as he entered for the seventh. Then came a six-pitch walk, a double and another walk where ball four was well above the zone. The infield closed in, and manager Rob Thomson strode from the dugout. Luzardo exited with the bases loaded.

“The hit happens, but the walks are kind of what rubs me the wrong way about the outing,” Luzardo said.

Luzardo gave up three runs, two coming after he departed, in a 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. It was not remotely his best day, nor his worst, in a rollercoaster season that began with Cy Young aspirations but has since featured potential pitch tipping and subsequent struggles caused by mechanical adjustments to address that tipping.

As Luzardo stumbled, it seemed like an obvious choice to move him to the bullpen for the postseason. He has the stuff to succeed there, and though it was several seasons ago, he pitched in relief in the postseason for Oakland in 2019.

Luzardo joining the bullpen could still be wise. He has looked better, however, with a 3.50 ERA in three August starts. As the stretch run continues, he is among several reasons the Phillies have to ponder: Who is their third-best starter?

The question carries postseason implications. Just three starters will potentially be needed in the National League Divisional Series because of an extra day off. Should the Phillies make it there, Cristopher Sánchez is a given. So is Zack Wheeler. The third spot, just a few weeks ago, would have been locked up by Ranger Suárez.

Now, that could be in flux. Suárez produced a 2.15 ERA across 83 2/3 innings in the first half. But in five outings since the All-Star break, he has allowed 21 earned runs en route to a 6.59 ERA. His worst outing came Tuesday in Cincinnati, allowing six earned runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Suárez’s velocity continues to sink — a mystery he and the Phillies are trying to solve.

“We’re definitely not wanting it to go backward,” pitching coach Caleb Cotham said last week. “That’s step one, and then you just try to squeeze out as much as we can as the season goes on. But the game and the batters will tell you when you need to do something different, and I feel really good with where he’s at.”

Rather than skip Suárez in the rotation, the Phillies gave him an extra day of rest and will start him Monday against the Seattle Mariners. They were able to do so with Aaron Nola returning from the injured list to pitch Sunday in the series finale versus the Nationals. And everyone will get an extra day of rest with the Phillies running a six-man operation that also includes Taijuan Walker, at least for a turn.

Nola’s return provides another option for the third starter. He did not begin 2025 strongly, producing a 6.16 ERA across  49 2/3 innings — though the last two starts (8 2/3 innings, 13 runs) came on a sprained ankle. Then he developed a rib fracture, and what likely would have been a 15-day injured list stint turned into a three-month absence.

Nola said he feels good. He also said he’s learned more about his body because of how detail-oriented rehab is, including how to take his time with correct hand positioning and to get the ball out in front of him during slow throwing periods. He focused on his command in recovery and on keeping his pitches sharp.

In his final rehab start on Tuesday, Nola struck out 11 and allowed two earned runs across 5 2/3 innings. Yet his fastball averaged 91.0 mph, and his knuckle curve 77.2. In his last MLB start on May 14, the fastball averaged 91.8 mph and the knuckle curve 78.8. He is ramping up, and perhaps more velocity will come. But there likely won’t be a solid answer to what the Phillies have in Nola until he makes a few starts.

Then there is Walker, who has a 2.93 ERA in six outings since rejoining the rotation. The righty has been solid every fifth day and is being rewarded with a rotation spot, for now. But Nola and Suárez, and perhaps even Luzardo, appear to be likelier options for the club’s third spot. And decisions could hinge on the opponent, like whether a team hits lefties or righties better. Winning the division and earning a bye could play a role, too.

It is mid-August, and the Phillies (69-52) are five games ahead of the New York Mets atop the National League East. The answers will come in time, just as the Phillies’ pitching staff is getting some reprieve.

“We’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,” Thomson said.

(Photo of Jesús Luzardo: Jess Rapfogel / Getty Images)