Phillies place All-Star Luzardo on 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation (September 15)

The Philadelphia Phillies placed All-Star left-hander Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list on September 15, retroactively dating the placement to September 13, due to left shoulder inflammation. An MRI revealed no structural damage to Luzardo's throwing shoulder.

Luzardo was scratched from his scheduled start in Atlanta three days before the IL placement due to left shoulder stiffness. He last pitched on September 7 with a two-hit shutout against the Braves, striking out 12 and throwing 109 pitches. Kyle Backhus was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Luzardo's roster spot.

Luzardo is eligible to return on September 26, the final day of the regular season. The Wild Card Series is scheduled to begin on September 29, meaning he would have three days between his earliest return and playoff play. The Phillies have not ruled out a postseason start, and Luzardo expressed confidence in his availability.

Luzardo told reporters: "Ideally, the timeline does work out that way. Obviously, we have to see where I'm at throwing-wise. But the plan is to be ready to go for October. And yeah, I feel fully confident." He also said he has already felt improvement: "Way, way better." Luzardo has not received any injections for the pain; the recovery plan is to continue treatment to flush out the inflammation.

Luzardo is 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 29 starts this season, striking out 221 and walking 52 in 178⅔ innings. Over his past 21 starts dating to May 14, he carries a 1.93 ERA, and the Phillies are 18-3 in those games. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month for August and is in the first year of a five-year, $135 million extension.

Interim manager Don Mattingly acknowledged the loss. "I think anytime you lose a guy that's been throwing the ball like this, it is a blow. But that doesn't change that you still have to take care of the guy, no matter how big of a blow it is." Mattingly added: "I don't think anybody's worried that this is long term, that this is into the next year or anything like that. I think we do think that he's going to be ready to pitch at the end of the year." The Phillies have not decided how they will fill Luzardo's spot over the final 12 games and will use a bullpen game at some point.

The Phillies entered September 15 holding the second National League Wild Card spot, a half-game behind the Cubs for the top Wild Card slot. They lead the Padres by one game for the final postseason berth and trail the Braves by 4½ games in the NL East.