The Philadelphia Phillies have placed All-Star starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list because of inflammation in his left shoulder. Luzardo was recently removed from his scheduled start against the Atlanta Braves after experiencing the problem.
The move is retroactive to Saturday, which means Luzardo could become eligible to return on September 27, the final day of the regular season. An MRI did not show any serious damage, but the pitcher did not throw on Sunday or Monday as he continued his recovery.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly said Luzardo was feeling better but was not yet ready to return to the mound. The team is expected to be cautious with the pitcher as it approaches the final games of the regular season.
Luzardo’s absence comes at an important time for Philadelphia. The Phillies are competing for a playoff place and currently hold the second National League wild-card position. They are half a game behind the Chicago Cubs and one game ahead of the San Diego Padres, while they have a 3½-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 2026 season has been a strong one for Luzardo. He has posted a 14-5 record with a 2.87 ERA and earned his first All-Star selection. He also leads the National League in strikeouts with 221.
Luzardo’s most recent start came on September 7, when he pitched a complete game. His performance has made him an important part of Philadelphia’s starting rotation, particularly as the team tries to secure a postseason position.
Mattingly expressed confidence that Luzardo can return before the end of the season. However, he stressed that the priority is making sure the pitcher’s shoulder is healthy before he resumes competitive action.
To strengthen the pitching staff during Luzardo’s absence, the Phillies recalled right-handed pitcher Grant Holman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Holman has already appeared for Philadelphia this season but had a difficult outing in which he allowed five unearned runs.
The Phillies will now have to manage their pitching rotation carefully while continuing their playoff push. The team will also closely monitor Luzardo’s recovery as the regular season approaches its final week.