José Alvarado is thrilled with the current state of the team.
The 2024 season has been a bit tumultuous for Philadelphia Phillies’ left-handed reliever José Alvarado, marking his least consistent performance since joining the team in 2021 when he had a 4.20 ERA in 64 games.
In contrast, Alvarado had been a standout in the bullpen during the previous two seasons, with impressive ERAs of 1.92 in 2022 and 2.41 last year.
This year has presented new challenges, but Alvarado remains positive and sees himself as a key player for the Phillies, who are aiming for a World Series title.
Alvarado, 29, started the season as one of the top arms in the Phillies’ bullpen. Although he showed glimpses of his past dominance early on, he encountered difficulties in July, posting an ERA of 8.31 and seeing his strikeout rate fall below one per inning.
In late August, Alvarado was placed on the restricted list for personal reasons, which might have impacted his performance during his struggles.
Since returning, Alvarado has bounced back strongly, making five appearances without allowing an earned run and achieving a strikeout rate of 12.60.
This is encouraging for the Phillies, who have high postseason aspirations. Alvarado expressed his satisfaction with his and the team’s current status in a quote shared by Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia:
“What can I say? It all seems like the best thing in the world when you’re on the best team in baseball with the best record in baseball and best teammates in baseball. It all feels so nice. Just proud of everything we’re doing and the results we’ve been getting.”
As the postseason approaches, the Phillies are keen to have a strong bullpen. Alvarado’s return to form is a significant boost as they prepare to face formidable playoff opponents.
Since making the playoffs in 2022 for the first time in over a decade, the Phillies’ clubhouse atmosphere has been a key focus. The positive outlook from players, even those who have faced challenges, is reassuring as the team aims to close out the regular season strong and carry that momentum into October.
