The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen took a hit on Sunday after veteran right-handed pitcher Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games after violating MLB‘s Joint Prevention and Treatment Program, according to multiple reports.
As part of his suspension, the 29-year-old will not be able to participate in the postseason, even if the Phillies qualify. Alvarado tested positive for exogenous testosterone in Major League Baseball’s drug testing program.
Alvarado becomes the second player to be suspended for drug use this season, after the Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar.
In a brief statement on its social networks, the Phillies showed their annoyance at the violation of the rules by the Venezuelan player.
Alvarado’s numbers in 2025
This season, Alvarado has made 20 appearances as a reliever and has a 2.70 ERA, in which he has seven saves, the most on the team, and has 25 strikeouts in 20 innings on the mound.
Considering that the team has played 45 games this season, Alvarado will not be able to return until there are only 37 games left.
This is Alvarado’s fifth season with the organization, having joined in 2021. Last season he had a 4.09 ERA with 13 saves and 63 strikeouts in 61 and two-thirds innings.
With Alvarado out of the picture, it’s possible that Jordan Romano or Matt Strahm will be called upon to handle most of the late-inning work, while the team will likely explore options to add another arm to the bullpen.
Currently, Philadelphia ranks second in the National League East with a 27-18 record, just 1.5 games behind the division-leading New York Mets.
The 29-year-old Venezuelan made his debut in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays, and has a 3.40 ERA with 52 saves and a 19-26 record.
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