MRI shows no structural damage to D-backs 1B Paul Goldschmidt’s elbow

Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks will be out of the lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers, but he rejoined the team in Los Angeles and said an MRI taken showed no structural damage to his elbow, reports MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert.

Manager Torey Lovullo said that Goldschmidt received a cortisone shot in his elbow Tuesday to reduce inflammation, according to The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro.

After the D-backs’ 3-1 win over Los Angeles on Tuesday night, Lovullo said in his postgame press conference that he elected not to use Goldschmidt as a pinch-hitter because he was still dealing with inflammation. The manager added Goldschmidt will be reevaluated on Wednesday.

Goldschmidt had told the media prior to the game that he expected to play Wednesday.

Lovullo announced Monday that Goldschmidt had been dealing with a sore right elbow for the better part of a week. The 29-year-old first baseman was sent back to Phoenix for an MRI on Monday.

“We felt strongly that he could play if he had to,” Lovullo told Burns and Gambo on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station earlier on Tuesday. “I made the decision that this was something I didn’t want to have lingering. The doctor said, ‘Well if that’s the case, let’s get a picture of it.’

“I know when you hear the word(s) ‘go back home’ hear the word MRI, people tend to worry. And I don’t blame them. We felt like this was more precautionary than anything, and we’re not really trying to do anything other than be as transparent as possible.”

Tonight's #Dbacks lineup. #OurSeason pic.twitter.com/8KCoNkl3vy

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 5, 2017

 

Without Goldschmidt in the lineup for the series finale against Colorado and Monday’s series opener with the Dodgers, Arizona still managed to score a combined 18 runs and won both games.

Goldschmidt missed only three games in 2016 and two in 2015.

In 135 games this season, Goldschmidt is hitting .314 (152-for-484) with 33 home runs and 109 RBI.