Phillies’ Jesus Luzardo delivers latest update on his shoulder setback before Braves matchup

Jesús Luzardo gave the Philadelphia Phillies some much-needed good news Saturday after a shoulder scare raised questions about his availability for the final weeks of the season.

Luzardo underwent an MRI on his pitching shoulder after experiencing discomfort. The results showed inflammation but no structural damage, according to Phillies beat writer Charlotte Varnes.

Luzardo called the diagnosis a "positive outcome." He will not throw for the next couple of days before the Phillies reevaluate him after Monday's off-day.

That timeline gives Philadelphia some hope that Luzardo can return without missing significant time. The team is entering an important stretch with the Atlanta Braves , and the left-hander has become one of its most reliable starters.

Luzardo is 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP and 221 strikeouts over 178.2 innings this season. He also recently showed why his health matters so much to Philadelphia.

On Sept. 7, Luzardo threw a two-hit shutout against the Braves. He struck out eight in the 1-0 victory and gave Philadelphia one of its biggest wins of the season.

The Phillies now have to balance that importance with caution. A shoulder problem this late in the year could become much more serious if Luzardo returns too quickly.

The timing is especially important because Philadelphia entered Saturday five games behind Atlanta in the NL East. The Phillies have a strong wild-card position, but they still have plenty to play for during the final weeks.

For now, the MRI provides the outcome Philadelphia wanted. There is inflammation, but no structural damage that would immediately threaten Luzardo's season.

The Phillies will give their starter a few days without throwing and see how his shoulder responds. That should give the club a better idea of whether he can make his next start or needs more time.

After Luzardo's dominant performance against Atlanta earlier this month, Philadelphia knows what he can provide when healthy. The priority now is making sure the shoulder stays healthy enough for October.