It was just about a year ago that Aidan Miller was held out of the last week of the season “as a precaution.” It was more than a precaution. Now, after Jesus Luzardo was held out of his last start “as a precaution,” we find out that was more than a precaution, as well.
The Phillies placed Luzardo on the 15-day IL with left shoulder inflammation prior to Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals. Luzardo had been scratched from his scheduled start against the Braves last Saturday and the Phillies went with a bullpen game that turned into a 12-2 loss to the Braves.
The Phillies had hoped for Luzardo to play catch today and work his way back into a regular schedule, but he was still unable to throw and was shut down. The timing means that he can come off the IL on September 27, which just happens to be the last day of the season. There also would be no time for him to make a rehab start, if needed, since the minor league season ends this Sunday.
As for his availability for the postseason, both Luzardo and interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters today that they were optimistic he would be available.
To fill the roster spot the Phillies have recalled Kyle Backhus from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. It was reported originally by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs that pitcher Grant Holman had been recalled, and not Backhus. We regret passing along the misinformation.
Who’s next?
The Phillies have been here before. When Andrew Painter was struggling in the fifth spot in the rotation, the options for replacing him were slim. Alan Rangel took a shot, but went 0-2, 6.35 in three starts with the Phillies.
The starters at Lehigh Valley include: Ryan Cusick (7.42), Tucker Davidson (5.72), Drake Fellows (5.64), Brian Keller (6.60), Chuck King (3.97), and Casey Lawrence (4.95). King was recently named the IronPigs Pitcher of the Year and has been the only consistently good starter on the Triple-A roster. King would have to be placed on the 40-man roster and he has never pitched in the majors before. His 22 starts with Lehigh Valley are the only games he has pitched at the Triple-A level. His last start was Friday, which would make him available to take Luzardo’s spot in the rotation this Friday against the Mets.
Nestor Cortes was signed earlier in the season with the hope that he would provide some veteran help out of the bullpen or in a situation such as this, but he wound up on the IL with Clearwater. He did make a relief appearance with Lehigh Valley, giving up one run in an inning of work against the Worcester Red Sox. Cortes gave up a leadoff single, a stolen base and then two groundballs that brought in the run. He struck out Red Sox prospect Mikey Romero to end the inning. That inning of work was the first for Cortes since September third of last season when he allowed six earned runs in 2.1 innings against Baltimore as a member of the San Diego Padres.
If you’re thinking about Reading’s Gage Wood, that’s not going to happen. First, he started Tuesday night’s playoff game against Hartford, so he would not be ready to pitch again on Friday. Second, he is the top pitching prospect in the organization, but has had somewhat of an uneven season with Reading and is not ready to be thrown into a playoff stretch at the major league level.
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