Watching Jesus Luzardo masterfully mow down the Braves’ batters Monday afternoon, you could have had visions of Steve Carlton in your head.

Throw in Kyle Schwarber’s 43rd blast of the season in under two hours, and you had a masterpiece. The Phillies wanted more than split in the four-game series, but this one felt more than that. It could be a Labor Day victory you may never forget.

Since June, Luzardo has been the Phils’ new “Lefty” with all due respect to Cristopher Sanchez, who has 16 wins in his pocket.

It was a game the Phils needed. It could be a catalyst and have a lingering effect for the rest of the season. They now need to say the course and rid themselves of some haunting effects from their playoff series woes in recent years.

Whether or not the Phillies win the National League East isn’t the utmost importance. Sure, it would be nice to get home field against the third Wild Card, likely the Padres or Diamondbacks.

With outings like Luzardo’s and recent gems from Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, the Phils are almost assured of a Wild Card spot.

They still have a shot at the division with Atlanta returning home against Tampa this week before another three-game set against the Phillies. The Braves have a 39-42 record at home against teams with .500 or better records.

Atlanta then takes off for three-game series in Chicago and Houston before they return home against Cincinnati and Houston to close out the season.

More importantly, though, this will be about how the Phils perform in Atlanta next weekend.

Throwing out Friday’s clunker in their 5-2 loss, the Phils responded with three focused and concentrated efforts that had all the drama and intensity of a World Series deciding seventh game.

Luzardo’s first career shutout and complete game preceded by Aaron Nola’s and Zack Wheeler’s strong showings along with some timely hitting have given the Phils the impetus to overthrow their nagging and sometimes pompous - see Ronald Acuna Jr. - division rivals from the South. If Atlanta had won Monday, the Phils probably would have suffered a major blow to their psyche even with 18 games left to play. Instead, surging Cy Young candidate Luzardo provided the pat-on-the-back they needed.

But before the upcoming series in Atlanta, the Phils have to take care of business at home against Houston and avoid a letdown from yesterday.

Yet, this team isn’t without issues.

Rookie Alex McFarlane shouldn’t be roasted for his blowup Saturday night. Before his collapse, he hadn’t given up an earned run since his second appearance out of 12 on Aug. 11.

There’s still some over the bullpen in general, mainly circled around Orion Kerkering pitching in pressure spots. He hasn’t been able to totally shake his playoff meltdown last year. And Jonathan Bowlan doesn’t look totally invincible any more.

You have to wonder if Jhoan Duran could pitch two innings in the postseason to close to it.

Besides Schwarber and Bryce Harper, it’s time for Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh, and even Bryson Stott to regain their swings. Alec Bohm has been grilled and basted all season, but he is on his way to a probable 20-plus, 90-RBI-plus season.

Manager Don Mattingy’s platoon system of Justin Crawford, Derek Hill, and Bryan De La Cruz has worked and paid dividends. Crawford has quietly put together a steady rookie season.

To Mattingly’s credit, he hasn’t been perfect, but he appears to be the cultivating caretaker.

The Braves aren’t going away, and Acuna’s return into the lineup has raised their game. It will be another intensified and impassioned series with the Phillies on the weekend.

But with a bonafide starting staff - Andrew Painter has emerged as expected - and Duran being among the elite closers, it’s time for the cast of Schwarber, Harper, Turner, Marsh, and Bohm to finally deliver.

Marty, Myers and Ranger: Looking back at the Phillies 1980 and 2008 championship teams, there were only two starters who threw complete games in September.

Marty Bystrom made his rookie debut with a 5-0 victory over the Mets on Sept. 10, 1980 when he allowed five hits, struck out five, and walked two.

Brett Myers fired a two-hitter in a 6-1 win over Milwaukee on Sept. 14, 2008. He had four strikeouts and one walk.

Ranger Suarez was the last Phillies’ starter to throw a complete-game shutout in September on Sept. 25, 2021 in a 3-0 win. He allowed four hits and struck out nine.

Banks Are Open: Lefty reliever Tanner Banks is scheduled to return soon from his rehab assignment with the IronPigs, where he has allowed two hits and an earned run over 6 ⅔ innings. Banks was scheduled to throw 40 pitches Tuesday night.

But the question is where will the Phillies use him, or do they have to use him? Despite his inconsistencies, Jose Alvarado has held onto the top spot, and Brooks Raley and Tim Mayza haven’t thrown regularly lately. Mayza last threw on Sept. 4 and Raley on Sept. 6.

Banks has struggled this season with a 7.14 ERA in 29 innings compared to his .307 mark last season.

Max Is Mad: Former Phillies’ outfielder Max Kepler recently was designated for assignment by Arizona. Kepler served an 80-game suspension for PED use.

He is hitting .205 with two homers and 15 RBIs in 41 games.

Play The Safe Route: In a recent Times News Facebook poll, the question was proposed on whether the Phillies would win the National League East, win a Wild Card spot, or miss the playoffs.

An overwhelming 78 percent believed the Phils would definitely secure a Wild Card, while 10 percent saw them defend their NL East title. A slightly high 12 percent saw them missing the playoffs.

Is It Miller Time?: Highly touted 22-year-old prospect Aidan Miller is finally seeing action from his prolonged back injury that had sidelined him from playing with the IronPigs this season.

Miller is playing shortstop at Clearwater, and he could also see time at either Reading or Lehigh Valley this season. He went 1-for-2 with a double and a strikeout in his first game.

After the season, Miller will play in the Arizona Fall League.

All eyes will be on him, as the Phils brass determines whether they want him back at Lehigh Valley for a year or will he be ready to play in the Phils’ infield next season. Bohm is in his contract year, and the Phils have been reluctant to talk about moving Turner.

Another Minor Fact: Reading’s 22-year-old shortstop Bryan Rincon’s stock is rapidly rising.

Rincon has jumped to the organization’s eighth-rated prospect mainly due to his 23-homer, 60 RBI, .264, 23 stolen base season. He has an OPS of .908 and an OBP of .407.

Taylor Made: When the Cubs acquired Tyron Taylor from the Mets, it was seen as an extra bat off the bench.

But Taylor, who was beginning to find his niche at the plate before the trade, definitely has it now.

Since June 28, Taylor has been the game’s hottest hitter with a minimum of 100 at bats. He ranks first in batting average (.381), OBP (.445), slugging (.711), wOBA (.488) and wRC+ (.215).

Taylor came to the Cubs with starter Clay Holmes for top prospect Jefferson Rojas Aug. 3.

Where Are They Now?: In acquiring Luzardo from Miami in 2025, the Phillies sent shortstop Staylyn Cruz (No. 4 prospect at the time) and outfielder Emaarion Boyd (No. 23 prospect). It proved to be a steal for the Phils and likely one of their best deals in years.

Cruz is hitting .236 with 21 steals at High-A Beloit, and he has a career .240 average with 101 steals in four seasons. Boyd is at Double-A Pensacola and hitting .241 with 18 steals. In five seasons, Boyd has a .250 career average with 160 career steals.

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