The Phillies reinstated Alvarado (suspension) from the restricted list Tuesday.
The left-hander has been sidelined since mid-May after being handed an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test, but he'll rejoin the Phillies for the closing stretch of the regular season. Alvarado was part of the closing mix prior to the suspension with seven saves and a 2.70 ERA, but Jhoan Duran is now locked in as Philadelphia's closer. Due to the suspension, Alvarado won't be eligible to pitch in the playoffs this season.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Starting rehab assignment Thursday
Rotowire
Alverado (suspension) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.
Alvarado was handed an 80-game PED suspension in mid-May and is now closing in on his return. The reliever is eligible to be activated Aug. 19 and will make some appearances with Lehigh Valley to get back up to speed. However, the southpaw will not reclaim the closer role for the Phillies, who acquired Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline.
Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Handed 80-game suspension
Rotowire
Major League Baseball suspended Alvarado for 80 games Sunday due to a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Alvarado has been a central part of Philadelphia's bullpen this season, posting a 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 20 innings while successfully converting all seven of his save chances. His suspension will now take him out of action until mid-August, and Alvarado won't be eligible to pitch in the postseason. Jordan Romano had already started getting more frequent save chances of late, and he'll likely receive even more ninth-inning opportunities with Alvarado out.
Alvarado retired the final two batters of the ninth inning to collect a save in Friday's win over the Pirates.
The Phillies began the ninth inning with Daniel Robert on the mound in a non-save situation, but after the 30-year-old reliever walked in a run, Alvarado entered the game with an 8-4 lead and the bases loaded with one out. He needed just six pitches to put an end to Pittsburgh's late rally and pick up his seventh save of the young season. He now owns a 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 20 frames.
Alvarado struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to pick up a save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Pitching on two days of rest, Alvarado needed just 11 pitches to finish off the Diamondbacks on Thursday. He struck out Geraldo Perdomo to record the final out of the night and pick up his sixth save of the season, lowering his ERA to a minuscule 1.72 through 15.2 innings.
Alvarado recorded the final out of Saturday's 11-10 win over the Marlins to pick up his fifth save of the season.
The Phillies took an 11-4 lead into the ninth inning, but Jordan Romano served up two homers en route to giving up six runs in two-thirds of an inning, forcing Alvarado into the game to clean up the mess. The southpaw needed just two pitches to get Xavier Edwards to line out to right field. Alvarado has been dominant to begin the season, going 5-for-5 in converting save chances while posting a 2.79 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB through 9.2 innings. While the Phillies have plenty of high-leverage options in the bullpen, Alvarado appears to have a lock on the closer job for the moment.
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Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Grabs fourth save
Rotowire
Alvarado earned the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over San Francisco, allowing one run on two hits in the ninth inning.
Alvarado gave up a one-out homer to Tyler Fitzgerald, allowing the Giants to cut the deficit to two, though he rebounded to close out the victory to improve to 4-for-4 in save chances this year. The left-handed Alvarado has given up a run in each of his past two outings, but he still sports a 2.89 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB through 9.1 innings this season.
Alvarado struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Cardinals.
The lefty continued his dominant start to the season. Alvarado has only been scored upon in one of his seven appearances so far, racking up two wins and a hold in addition to his saves along with a 1.23 ERA and 13:2 K:BB through 7.1 innings. While the Phillies' bullpen has a long history of volatility, Alvarado is the team's clear top high-leverage option right now.
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