The Philadelphia Phillies scratched left-hander Jesús Luzardo from Saturday night’s start against the Atlanta Braves because of stiffness in his left shoulder, interim manager Don Mattingly said after Friday’s 6-5 loss in 11 innings at Truist Park.
The announcement came minutes after Atlanta walked off Philadelphia and stretched its National League East lead to five games. The Braves sit at 87-61. The Phillies fell to 82-66.
“He’s been having some shoulder stiffness,” Mattingly said. “As we worked through it the past couple of days, we thought he was going to be able to make the start. Still not quite there, we feel like it’s safer to be careful with him and don’t want this to linger.”
The discomfort showed up after Luzardo’s last outing Monday in Philadelphia, when he threw the first complete game and shutout of his career. He needed only 109 pitches to blank the Braves on two hits, striking out 12 and walking one in a 1-0 win that lasted 1 hour, 51 minutes.
Philadelphia now plans a bullpen game Saturday, with an opener to be named. Mattingly said Luzardo is not expected to go on the injured list immediately and could pitch sometime next week if the shoulder loosens.
“That’s the first plan,” Mattingly said. “Yeah, he needs just a couple extra days, works it out of there, and go from there.”
Luzardo was not available after Friday’s game. He threw a short touch-and-feel session earlier in the day and told the club he thought he could take the ball. The staff disagreed.
“He threw a little touch and feel today just to see where he’s at. He’s just having trouble getting loose; that was the biggest thing. He thought he could pitch. We didn’t think it was the best thing,” Mattingly said.
The caution is understandable. Luzardo has been Philadelphia’s steadiest starter for months. He is 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, 221 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP in 178 2/3 innings over 29 starts.
Since June 10 he has posted a 1.70 ERA. In his last 15 starts he owns a 1.71 ERA across 100 innings. Over his last seven outings the ERA is 1.08 in 50 innings.
Mattingly did not hide what a longer absence would mean in a tight September race.
“If it lingers, it obviously would be a big blow, and I would be more concerned,” he said. “To this point, I don’t feel that same way.”
Friday’s loss already hurt. Aaron Nola allowed homers to Matt Olson and Austin Riley. Jonathan Bowlan could not hold a 3-2 lead in the ninth after a single and an error. Luis Arraez put the Phillies back in front in the 11th, only for Ha-Seong Kim and Drake Baldwin to finish the rally against Brooks Raley.
Luzardo’s absence leaves a thinner rotation as Philadelphia tries to stay within reach of Atlanta and protect its wild-card position. Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez remain the other anchors. The club has little margin for another starter to miss a turn.
Shoulder stiffness can fade with rest. It can also linger into October. Mattingly said the staff’s choice Friday was simple: protect the pitcher rather than force a start he might not finish cleanly.
Luzardo, 28, signed a five-year, $135 million extension in March that begins next season. He has rewarded that bet with the best year of his career and his first All-Star-caliber stretch as a Phillie. The next few days will show whether Monday’s 109-pitch masterpiece cost him more than one start.
Philadelphia and Atlanta finish the series Sunday afternoon. Luzardo’s next appearance, if it comes on schedule next week, would likely fall after the club leaves Truist Park.
