Marlins' Luzardo lands on IL with elbow tightness, undergoing tests
Miami Marlins left-hander Jesús Luzardo was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with left elbow tightness, the team announced.
Right-hander Anthony Maldonado was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move and will start in Luzardo's place Friday against the Washington Nationals.
Luzardo was scratched from his scheduled start earlier Friday due to what the team initially termed left elbow discomfort, and he's now undergoing additional testing. He felt the discomfort during a throwing session Thursday.
An exact timeline for his return will be determined once the Marlins have his test results, but the 26-year-old said he's optimistic his IL stint is precautionary and he'll only have to miss a couple starts, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Luzardo added that this injury does not feel as bad as his forearm strain in 2022.
Luzardo was one of the Marlins' best pitchers last season, but he's struggled to replicate that success this season. Over his first five starts this year, the native of Lima, Peru posted a 6.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, while his 4.5 BB/9 rate matched his career-worst mark from 2021. His K/9 rate and average fastball velocity have also dropped.
His injury is the latest blow to a Marlins rotation that's been decimated by injuries amid the team's woeful 6-20 start to this season. Former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara and promising youngster Eury Pérez are both out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, lefty Braxton Garrett hasn't pitched this season because of shoulder impingement, and A.J. Puk hit the IL last week after struggling to start his season.
Maldonado, who will be making his MLB debut on Friday, is ranked as Miami's No. 18 prospect by MLB.com. The 26-year-old will presumably serve as an opener in Friday's game as he's worked exclusively as a reliever in the minors. In eight appearances at Jacksonville this year, he's posted a 2.31 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 10 strikeouts and two saves.