The Philadelphia Phillies are entering a critical stretch of their season facing a major bullpen shakeup. José Alvarado, the team’s dominant closer, has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The suspension not only sidelines him for much of the regular season, but also renders him ineligible for postseason play — a crushing blow for a team with serious playoff aspirations.
Alvarado has been stellar in 2025, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.70 ERA, seven saves, and a sparkling 1.86 FIP across 20 appearances. His 29.8% strikeout rate and career-best 4.8% walk rate underscore his dominance in high-leverage situations. Perhaps most impressively, he had yet to blow a save this season.
In response to the suspension, the Phillies are activating José Ruiz from the injured list, a move that had been in consideration even before Alvarado’s ban. Ruiz’s return adds some depth to the bullpen, but the team will need to reconfigure its late-inning strategy quickly.
The Phillies are also dealing with rotation adjustments. Rookie Mick Abel, who made a spot start after Aaron Nola was placed on the injured list, will be optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following Sunday’s game. Taijuan Walker will take Abel’s place in the rotation, starting on Wednesday and holding the spot until Nola is ready to return.
The bullpen now includes only two left-handers — Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks — as Alvarado’s absence leaves a significant hole from both a performance and matchup standpoint. The Phillies’ 40-man roster doesn’t currently include any additional left-handed relievers who aren’t already active or on the restricted list. That makes right-hander Seth Johnson a likely candidate for a call-up, though he would not help balance the left-right mix.
As the Phillies juggle roster moves and seek a new ninth-inning solution, the front office faces mounting pressure. Replacing Alvarado’s production will be no small task, and with playoff hopes hanging in the balance, every bullpen decision will be under the microscope.
Leave a Reply