Why The Phillies Should Turn To Jose Alvarado In Game 3

Jose Alvarado has a reputation for being a bit wild. There was a 2-month period this season when it was hard to have any faith in him. Granted he was not the only Phillies player to struggle in that time, but that combined with 1 unfortunate outing in the World Series 2 years ago, has fans a bit down on him.

He did not see the field in the first two games of this series. Rob Thomson has gone to the other notable lefty in their pen, Matt Strahm, in both games. Both times he let them down. In game 1 he came in for cleanup duty after Jeff Hoffman let 3 straight hitters get on base, and then let all of the inherited runners score. Game 2 he got a clean inning, with a 2-run lead, and coughed up a game-tying HR to Mark Vientos.

Strahm's pitch to Vientos was not bad, Vientos just put a great swing on it. But the Mets clearly have his number right now. Jeff Hoffman, Orion Kerkering, and Strahm all came up small. Carlos Estevez actually looked great, but you will need more than just him in game 3. So on Tuesday, when they have a high-leverage inning, there is one man they should turn to. The Hefty lefty himself, Jose Alvarado.

At this point, you are probably freaking out. But come into this with an open mind, because I am going to make the case that Alvarado is way more trustworthy than you think.

Did Alvarado struggle in July and August? Yes. Especially in July. But in the 4 other months this season, his ERA was under 3.0. That includes September, where he had an ERA of 2.89. He gave up just 3 runs all month long and held teams scoreless in 8 of the 10 outings. If you go to his final two appearances in August, he has held the other team scoreless in 10 of his last 12 outings. His WHIP for the month was under 1.0, with 5 hits and 3 walks over 9.1 innings.

Even in August, it was one blowup game that drove his ERA over 4. He gave up 3 runs to the Diamondbacks. But otherwise, shut the other team down in 7 of his 10 outings.

For the majority of this season, he has been a shutdown pitcher. But people hold July against him, just like they still hold the Yordan Alvarez Grand Slam against him. But if you look at the big picture, he has been one of their best bullpen arms for the past 3 seasons.

A lot was made last season about the struggles of the Phillies bullpen in the playoffs. But don't lump Jose Alvarado into that. He pitched 8 innings and gave up only 1 run. In game 3 against the DBacks he pitched 2 innings, including cleaning up a mess left by Orion Kerkering who had just blown the 1-run lead. Kimbrel gave it up in the 9th, but Alvarado was the bridge from the 7th to the 9th inning to keep it a 1-1 game.

The year before that he did have a couple blowups in the World Series. But between the Braves and Padres, he pitched 6.2 innings and gave up only a single solo shot that did not end up impacting the game. By the World Series, he might have just been used up having pitched in 6 of their 10 games.

He was your best relief pitcher in the playoffs last year, and arguably the best in 2022 as well. He has proven time and time again you can hand him the ball in the playoffs, and he will get the job done.

Now they need to turn to him again. Strahm has had no chance against the Mets, getting beat up twice. Hoffman looked lost. Kerkering pitched in both games and got hit around a bit. Say Nola gives you 7 innings. That is 2 more innings you need. Estevez, who was flawless in game 2, will get 1 of them. Jose Alvarado needs to get the other.

The Philadelphia Phillies began the MLB Playoffs in 2023 the same way they did in 2022.

Related Content: Phillies Red October Memories: 6 Games That Defined the Run to the 2022 World Series

While they didn’t win the National League East, they look primed for a hot streak in the new playoff format with six bids in each league.

It looked like history would repeat itself with a wild card team reaching the World Series. Except this time, the Phillies wouldn’t be the surprise underdogs against a team powerhouse like the Houston Astros.

Dave Dombrowski had added Trea Turner to an already stacked lineup. The high-priced shortstop finally came around offensively late in the 2023 regular season, and the World Series experience in 2022 made the Phillies a popular title pick locally and nationally.

The Red October crowd resumed the wrath that opponents felt during the miracle ride in 2022.

The Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and the Arizona Diamondbacks stood in their way.

October 16-17, 2023
National League Championship Series Games 1-2 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 3; Phillies 10, Arizona Diamondbacks 0

It was a done deal. Right?