The Phillies will be without one of their key arms in the stretch drive of the season as their playoff fate still hangs in the balance.
Philadelphia has placed left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday, with left shoulder inflammation.
The move will keep Luzardo, scratched from his Saturday start, out of the rotation through the end of the regular season. But interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters Tuesday that the team has not ruled the southpaw out of the mix for the postseason.
Luzardo told NBC Sports Philadelphia that it’s “guaranteed” he will be back for the playoffs.
Whether the Phillies make the postseason is still an open question.
Philadelphia, 4-6 in the last 10 games entering Tuesday’s slate, sits one game up for the second wild card in the National League with the Padres (who hold the third spot) going 9-1 in their last 10. The Diamondbacks, sit just outside the playoff bubble — 3 1/2 games behind the Phillies.
Luzardo’s second season with the Phillies, up to this point, has been an unqualified success. The first-time All-Star holds a 2.87 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 221 strikeouts in 178 1/3 innings. He’s also one of only 10 pitchers this season to throw a shutout.
Right-hander Grant Holman is coming up in a corresponding move.
The Phillies have a two-game series with the Nationals that starts Tuesday and then will come to Queens to face the Mets for four.
