The Philadelphia Phillies will have a new closer after José Alvarado has been suspended 80 games for PED usage. Alvarado is ineligible to play in the postseason if the Phillies make it. José Ruiz is being activated from the injured list, as a bullpen decision was looming anyway. Alvarado has a 4-1 record with a 2.70 ERA and seven saves this season in 20 games, along with a 1.86 FIP and a 6.25 K/BB rate. He has a 29.8% strikeout rate with a career-best 4.8% walk rate this year, and has yet to blow a save. The suspension is a crushing blow, as Alvarado has been the Phillies’ best high-leverage relief pitcher.
Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado is receiving an 80 game suspension without pay after testing positive for Exogenous Testosterone.
He will be ineligible for the postseason this season if the Phillies reach playoffs. pic.twitter.com/G5TohCuO5Z
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 18, 2025
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The Phillies will still option Mick Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after their game on Sunday. Abel was called up to make a spot start after Aaron Nola went on the injured list on Friday. Taijuan Walker will move into the rotation and start on Wednesday. Walker will then remain in the rotation until Nola returns. It remains to be seen who they will call up when Abel is optioned. Alvarado being suspended leaves the Phillies with two left-handed pitchers in the bullpen, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks. There are currently no left-handed pitchers on the Phillies 40-man roster who are not on the 26-man roster or restricted list. Seth Johnson is the most likely candidate to get called up.
Phillies In Need of New Closer After Alvarado Suspension
Who Needs To Step Up
Jordan Romano will probably get the bulk of save opportunities for the time being. He has extensive closing experience with 109 career saves. This season, Romano has a 0-1 record with a 7.71 ERA and four saves in 18 games. He has a 4.88 FIP and a 2.43 K/BB rate this year. Across six innings of work in May, he has not allowed an earned run. Romano has a 7.00 K/BB rate and a 1.27 FIP this month. It appears that he has overcome early-season struggles, at least for the time being. Romano had a 12.19 ERA across 10 1/3 innings pitched between March and April, along with a 1.67 K/BB rate and a 6.98 FIP in that span.
Changes That Could Be Made
The Phillies should consider asking Ranger Suárez to move to the bullpen. Suárez has four career saves in the regular season and one in the postseason. He also has 68 career regular season relief appearances in the majors. Suárez last pitched out of the bullpen during the regular season in 2021. It is worth mentioning that he is currently in a contract year. This makes it less likely that the Phillies would approach Suárez about moving to the bullpen. However with the starting pitching depth the team has, this is a move that needs to be made with Alvarado suspended. The impending arrival of Andrew Painter is another reason why the Phillies should see if Suárez is open to the idea.
Potential Outside Additions
There is now more urgency for Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski to acquire a high-leverage relief pitcher before the trade deadline. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on April 27 that the Phillies were monitoring the trade market for St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Currently, the Cardinals are second in the NL Central and one game back of a playoff spot. Helsley probably won’t be available in a trade if the Cardinals continue to perform at that level. However, Alvarado is eligible to return from the suspension before the end of the regular season, which might lead the Phillies to hold off on a significant move.
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