The Philadelphia Phillies placed starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday due to left shoulder inflammation, according to MLB.com. The roster move is retroactive to Sept. 12, putting the team’s top-performing arm out of commission during a tight National League East and wild-card race.
Luzardo Injury Details and Timeline
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, Luzardo missed his scheduled start on Saturday in Atlanta due to the lingering shoulder issue. He attempted to throw on Tuesday but informed the coaching staff that he was not comfortable continuing, prompting the organization to shut him down and place him on the injured list. “I know where we’re at. I know it’s an important part of the season. I want to be out there for the guys. But I feel like I’d be doing a disservice to them if I’m not at my best.” Luzardo is eligible to return on Sept. 27, which is the final day of the regular season, though pitching on that date could complicate his availability for the opening round of the playoffs.
https://x.com/MattGelb/status/2099963554602299513
Impact on Phillies Rotation and Postseason Chances
According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, losing Luzardo represents a massive blow to a Phillies rotation gearing up for October. Since June 10, Luzardo leads Major League Baseball with a 1.70 ERA across 16 starts, racking up 141 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings over that span. The Phillies entered Tuesday holding a half-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot while sitting 3.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks with 12 games remaining in the regular season, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. To fill the roster spot for Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Nationals, the Phillies recalled reliever Kyle Backhus from Triple-A, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. Meanwhile, manager Don Mattingly and the front office face major decisions regarding Luzardo’s rotation spot, which comes up again on Friday in New York.
Player Outlook and Future Availability
Despite the setback, Luzardo expressed optimism regarding his recovery and his chances of pitching when the postseason begins in late September. “My level of concern for the future is not that high because I know it’s something that will go away with time, but right now we don’t have much time, that’s just where I’m at,” Luzardo told NBC Sports Philadelphia. When specifically asked if he would pitch in the playoffs, Luzardo told the outlet, “Yeah. Guaranteed… I say guaranteed, like, in my mind I can say I will. I can’t say a hundred percent: ‘Oh, yeah, I’m going to start for this team.’ But that’s the goal, and I feel confident that I can make that happen.”
Worth a look