LOS ANGELES -- D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said an MRI exam of his right elbow Tuesday morning showed no structural damage, only inflammation, and he could be back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday.
Goldschmidt was given a cortisone injection to deal with the inflammation.
"It was what the training staff thought and what I was hoping for," Goldschmidt said. "It's all good news. I'm available to play, like I could have definitely played yesterday. I'm available to pinch-hit. I'll just keep doing some treatment and get the inflammation out. Hopefully it'll go away. They didn't seem too concerned. I feel the same way."
While Goldschmidt was told by the team doctor Gary Waslewski that he could play Tuesday night, manager Torey Lovullo said it was his decision not to start him.
"I think after today, it will be day to day," Lovullo said. "I'll get all the input I can possibly get."
Goldschmidt had been experiencing some discomfort in the elbow for the last week or so and the team thought it best to have some precautionary tests done so he flew from Los Angeles to Phoenix on Monday and returned late Tuesday afternoon.
While it's possible he could receive more rest over the next few weeks with the D-backs in commanding position for the top National League Wild Card spot, Goldschmidt typically dislikes taking days off.
"We're not there yet," he said of clinching a playoff berth. "I want to help us get there. I'm also extremely confident in other guys in this locker room. So it's a little bit of a balancing act. But I definitely want to get back to 100 percent or as close to it as I could. The doctors, trainers, everyone thought that was going to happen fairly quickly."
Lovullo does not want to get too far ahead of himself, but admitted that having Goldschmidt ready for a possible postseason run was most important.
"It's about making sure that he's ready and playing strong at the most important times of the year," Lovullo said.
One thing that Goldschmidt will continue to do is cut back on the number of pregame swings he takes. As the season goes on, he typically cuts back, and he was planning on doing less in September even before the elbow thing cropped up.
"I think it's something I've done a good job of," Goldschmidt said of cutting back. "I don't feel like it was overuse. I didn't feel like I was taking any more swings than I have in past years or anything like that. I think I'll probably do a little bit less just to play it safe as long as I have to, but also doing enough to be prepared to play the game."