The Philadelphia Phillies just hit another snag in their playoff run. Hard-throwing lefty reliever José Alvarado is now shut down for the rest of the season.
His injury—a strained left forearm—sounds mild on paper. Still, it caps off a rocky year for the flamethrower, who’s dealt with a suspension, shaky outings, and a lot of uncertainty about his future in Philly.
The Phillies have to lean even more on their reworked bullpen as the season winds down. They’re already juggling other big injuries, with Alec Bohm out and top prospect Justin Crawford still missing.
José Alvarado’s 2025 Season Comes to an Early End
Earlier this week, the Phillies put Alvarado on the 15-day injured list. Manager Rob Thomson didn’t waste time confirming that Alvarado won’t pitch again this year.
The left-hander felt tightness in his forearm. That’s always a red flag for pitchers, especially with how often it leads to elbow trouble.
A Suspension That Changed the Season
Before the injury, Alvarado’s season had already spun off course. He was hit with an 80-game suspension earlier in the year after testing positive for exogenous testosterone.
That punishment already made him ineligible for the postseason. The latest injury just sealed it.
Before all that, Alvarado was one of Philly’s best bullpen arms. He fired 20 early-season innings with a sharp 2.70 ERA, racking up 25 strikeouts and just four walks.
Hitters couldn’t do much against his high-velocity fastball and nasty cutter. He looked like a real weapon back then.
Post-Suspension Struggles
When Alvarado came back in mid-August, something was off. His ERA shot up to 7.50 in just six innings, and his velocity dropped.
Rumors about his elbow started swirling. Thomson admitted the dip was worrying, but said they’d rather let him rest and rehab than force it.
Decision Looming on His Contract
Looking ahead, the Phillies have a tough call to make. Alvarado’s contract has a $9 million club option for 2026, or they could buy him out for $500,000.
They’ll have to decide if he can bounce back. The front office has to weigh his recovery and whether he can be that early-season version again.
Phillies Bullpen Adapts and Reinforces
Philly’s bullpen has changed a lot while Alvarado’s been out. The front office didn’t sit still at the trade deadline, picking up veteran relievers David Robertson and Tim Mayza.
The biggest move, though, was landing flamethrower Jhoan Duran as the new closer. Suddenly, the Phillies have a late-inning trio that looks built for October pressure.
Depth Will Be Tested
With Alvarado gone, those new arms matter even more. Robertson and Mayza will need to handle tough lefty hitters, while Duran takes most of the ninth-inning work.
This bullpen’s ability to hold leads in big moments could be the difference between a deep playoff run and a quick exit. No pressure, right?
Injury Concerns Extend Beyond the Bullpen
The pitching staff isn’t the only group banged up. Third baseman Alec Bohm recently landed on the shelf with shoulder inflammation.
The team’s hoping he’ll be back after the minimum 10-day stint. Still, his recent slump at the plate has people a bit uneasy.
Otto Kemp Steps In at the Hot Corner
With Bohm out, Otto Kemp has stepped up. In four starts at third, Kemp’s surprised everyone with two home runs and five RBIs.
His defense has been steady, and his bat’s been clutch. He’s helped keep the Phillies in games while they’re missing a regular.
Top Prospect Justin Crawford Still Out
Meanwhile, top prospect Justin Crawford is still sidelined at Triple-A with a concussion. Nobody’s sure if he’ll make it back this season.
That’s another hit to the Phillies’ depth as they try to push into the postseason. It’s not the easiest road, but maybe they’ll find a way.
Playoff Push in Spite of Setbacks
Even with these challenges, the Phillies are still in contention. They’ve managed to work in new bullpen arms and deal with injuries to key players.
Smart offseason moves—especially when it comes to José Alvarado—could shape both their immediate chances and their future. It’s a lot to juggle, honestly.
Bottom line: Losing Alvarado just shows how fast a baseball season can flip. He went from dominating to suspended, then struggled, and now he’s hurt. The Phillies have to squeeze everything they can from the pitchers they’ve got, keep their core guys on the field, and just grind through this stretch. No one said it’d be easy.
Here is the source article for this story: José Alvarado suffers strained forearm, ending his suspension-shortened season sooner than expected
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