Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher José Alvarado has been excellent in spring training. he has not allowed an earned run this spring in eight outings. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Alvarado has added a curveball to his repertoire of pitches this season. Gelb also noted that the 29-year-old lefty has lost weight this offseason. Alvarado has an extra incentive to perform well this season, as Gelb mentions that his contract has a $9 million club option for the 2026 season. After bullpen uncertainty during the offseason, Alvarado, along with Jordan Romano and Orion Kerkering, are in line to be high-leverage relief pitchers. All three have had dominant springs. Additionally, Alvarado has a 0.63 WHIP and 17 strikeouts this spring.
Jose Alvarado’s 86mph Curveball broke 6 inches the wrong way (arm side, instead of glove side).
Pham’s reaction.
pic.twitter.com/9hTsNBGgE9
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 18, 2025
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José Alvarado Looking To Return To Form for Phillies
Potential for Increased Role to Start the Regular Season
With Matt Strahm potentially sidelined to start the regular season, Alvarado will probably see an increased workload. Alvarado and Strahm are the Phillies’ left-handed high-leverage relief pitchers. Tanner Banks is the only other lefty reliever likely to be on the Opening Day roster, and there are not really any left-handed pitchers still in contention for the already available bullpen spot. The upcoming decision about Taijuan Walker will impact this. Walker making the team creates a situation where there is only a spot available if Strahm starts the season on the injured list. Alvarado, Banks, and Strahm are the only relief pitchers on the Phillies 40-man roster who are left-handed. Tristan Garnett and Nick Vespi are also in the organization.
Bullpen Adjustments and the Need For Alvarado To Regain Trust
Strahm starting the season on the injured list would lead to Alvarado getting more high-leverage chances. Alvarado would need to pitch more often given the Phillies’ lack of left-handed bullpen depth. Moreover, this would lead to some right-handed pitchers in the Phillies bullpen needing to face more left-handed batters than usual. Alvarado on his own cannot fill the void Strahm would leave. However, Alvarado has the chance to earn back the trust he lost at the end of the 2024 season. He had a 3.92 ERA along with a 2.50 strikeout-to-walk rate in the first half of last season. But in the second half, he had a 4.37 ERA as well as a 1.92 strikeout-to-walk rate. Alvarado carrying over the success from spring training would be huge, especially if Strahm is out.
Previous Big League Success During The 2023 Season
Alvarado might be able to return to a form similar to his dominant 2023 season, based on his spring training performance. That season, Alvarado had a 0-2 record with a 1.74 ERA and 10 saves, along with a 2.41 FIP and a 40 ERA- in 42 games. During that season, he recorded a 37.2% strikeout rate and a 10.5% walk rate. Those numbers went backward in 2024, as he had a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate. In 2023, opposing batters had a .195 average against Alvarado, while in 2024, it went up to .214. Through his first seven spring appearances, Alvarado had an impressive 59.3% strikeout rate with an 11.1% walk rate. He had a .083 batting average against in those outings. A return to form for Alvarado would likely give the Phillies their most reliable lefty in the bullpen.
Photo Credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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