Another key man is back with the Philadelphia Phillies at a pivotal point in the season, returning from the 15-day injured list after dealing with inflammation in his left shoulder.
The All-Star left-hander was reinstated ahead of Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving Philadelphia another valuable pitching option as the club prepared for October.
Luzardo had not appeared in a game since September 7, when he delivered a two-hit shutout against the Atlanta Braves, before the Phillies placed him on the injured list on September 15.
Luzardo’s recovery progressed well enough for Philadelphia to become increasingly confident about his availability for the postseason. After the shoulder inflammation improved, the veteran resumed playing catch before advancing to a bullpen session on September 24.
He threw approximately 30 pitches while using his full arsenal and reported that the shoulder felt normal afterward. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly also indicated that Luzardo did not appear to experience any noticeable discomfort during the workout.
Although his return timeline initially carried some uncertainty, the positive developments gave Philadelphia reason to believe he could contribute when the playoffs arrived.
Rather than sending Luzardo directly into a postseason environment, the Phillies opted to give him a brief opportunity to pitch during the regular-season finale. He entered Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay out of the bullpen and needed just four pitches to retire the side, recording three straight groundouts.
The outing marked his first game appearance in 20 days and allowed Philadelphia to evaluate him against major-league hitters following his shoulder issue.
The Phillies ultimately defeated the Rays 7–3 to secure their fifth consecutive postseason appearance, while Luzardo came through his brief return without an apparent setback.
The importance of Luzardo’s comeback is magnified by the season he produced before landing on the injured list. Across 29 starts, the 28-year-old posted a 14–5 record with a 2.87 ERA, 221 strikeouts, 52 walks and a 1.08 WHIP over 178⅔ innings.
His strikeout total established a new career high and helped earn him his first All-Star selection. Luzardo was especially impressive during August, going 3–0 with a 1.31 ERA across 34⅓ innings and earning National League Pitcher of the Month honors.
His overall production also put him among the league’s top pitchers, with his 6.3 bWAR ranking second among National League pitchers behind teammate Cristopher Sánchez.
Now, Philadelphia must determine exactly how Luzardo fits into its postseason pitching plans. The left-hander has made it clear that he is prepared to accept whatever role the club believes is necessary, whether that means returning to the rotation or working from the bullpen.
With the Phillies coming off a shoulder-related absence, workload management and recovery time will be important considerations, particularly during a postseason where games can come in rapid succession.
His short relief appearance against Tampa Bay nevertheless gives Philadelphia another layer of flexibility. If Luzardo continues to respond well physically, the Phillies could have a major pitching weapon available as their October run begins.
