CINCINNATI -- In a move that could have implications ahead of the Trade Deadline, the Reds placed starting pitcher Tyler Mahle on the 15-day injured list with a strained right shoulder on Wednesday.

An MRI taken on Mahle’s shoulder ruled out any serious issues, and he is expected to be ready to return shortly after the All-Star break.

“It’s just a little bit of irritation and inflammation,” Mahle said. “No one was scared that it was going to be anything crazy, and I don’t think so either, just the way it feels. I think a little break will be great for my shoulder.”

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Mahle, 27, is 3-7 with a 4.48 ERA over 17 starts this season but he’s delivered several strong performances recently to post a 2.58 ERA over his last seven games. That included a 12-strikeout game over nine scoreless innings at Arizona on June 15.

If he is able to come back in the expected timetable, Mahle could get a chance to make a couple of starts before Aug. 2, this year's Trade Deadline. Along with teammate Luis Castillo, Mahle is viewed as one of the starters that contending teams are targeting to acquire. Another is the A’s Frankie Montas, who exited his most recent start with right shoulder tightness.

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Eligible for arbitration for a final time this offseason, Mahle is earning $5.2 million and can become a free agent after the 2023 season -- which makes him attractive to contending clubs.

The shoulder had been bothering Mahle lately, including his most recent start on Saturday vs. the Braves, a 4-1 loss in which he threw 110 pitches over five innings. He also felt something during his side session two days ago.

“He did the right thing by saying something,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I think we can definitely get ahead of this and keep them healthy for the rest of this year and for years to come. I think we'll look back and be glad that he took this little break.”

Mahle, who will take a few days off from throwing, had been scheduled to pitch Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader vs. the Pirates. Bell did not name a replacement starter. Mike Minor is slated to pitch Game 1.

Injuries have been rare for Mahle during his big league career. He missed a month in 2019 with a left hamstring strain, and at the end of his 2018 rookie season, a sore lat and shoulder fatigue shut him down for most of the final month.

“I’m not concerned at all,” Mahle said of the current injury. “I think this is actually probably really good. Get a little break here. I want to make the starts, obviously, but get a little break, get it back to 100 percent and then be ready for the second half. I think it’s going to be really good for my shoulder, my body and everything.”