Major League Baseball announced Sunday that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for exogenous Testosterone. He will not be eligible for the postseason if the Phillies qualify.
It’s a huge blow to the Phillies, who are 27-18 and 1.5 games behind the Mets for first place in the National League East.
Alvarado is a perfect 7 for 7 in save opportunities. He is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 20 games out of the Phillies’ bullpen.
An 80-game suspension will sideline Alvarado until the middle of August.
Jose Alvarado #46 of the Philadelphia Phillies high fives starting pitcher Aaron Nola #27 after defeating the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on July 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
Eric Espada/Getty Images
Alvarado got the bulk of the Phillies’ save opportunities when Jordan Romano got off to a rough start. Signed to a one-year, $8.5 million contract, Romano has a 7.71 ERA, four saves, and two blown saves.
If the Phillies feel uncomfortable giving the closer’s role to Romano or any of their other in-house candidates — Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, etc. — it would not be a surprise to see them pursue a trade.
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Although May trades are rare, they might be warranted in the case of the defending division champions, who are looking to repeat in a tough NL East.
Alvarado, in his fifth season with the Phillies, was acquired by the Phillies from the Rays in the Dec. 2020 deal that sent Garrett Cleavinger to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who traded a minor leaguer to Tampa Bay.
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Alvarado has been among the most consistent relievers in baseball since his 2017 debut. In 400 career appearances, he’s 19-26 with a 3.40 ERA.
Alvarado was instrumental in the Phillies’ run to the 2023 National League Championship Series. In eight postseason appearances that year, he allowed only seven hits, one run, and struck out six.
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In five seasons with the Phillies, Alvarado is 17-11 with a 3.37 ERA in 251 appearances, with 301 strikeouts in 229.2 innings. His dominance was on display in his most recent save Friday against the Pirates. He came into an 8-4 game with the bases loaded and struck out Oneil Cruz, then got Andrew McCutchen to ground out.
Alvarado’s average fastball velocity had remarkably increased this season as a 29-year-old, from 97.8 mph to 99.3. Now the Phillies are left to wonder how effective he can be for them down the stretch — and who will fill in for them in the interim.
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