The Philadelphia Phillies are off to a scorching start in the 2025 MLB season, putting up an impressive 8-3 record early on. But beneath the surface of their hot streak, the bullpen is already feeling the burn.
The departures of Jeff Hoffman to the Toronto Blue Jays and Carlos Estevez to the Kansas City Royals in free agency are weighing heavily. To patch up the holes in their bullpen, the Phillies brought in Jordan Romano, previously a closer for the Blue Jays, and Joe Ross, known for his versatility as a swingman.
Thanks to the Phillies' penchant for close contests, Ross has found himself thrust into higher-pressure situations, and the usual high-leverage arms are being worked overtime.
Romano, however, hasn’t exactly hit the ground running. In his first five outings, spanning a mere 4.0 innings, he's sporting a rough 15.75 ERA, having given up seven runs on six hits and four walks. His decreased velocity has raised eyebrows, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering if he can regain his form.
Thankfully for the Phillies, other bullpen arms have stepped up to the plate. Orion Kerkering has emerged as one of the most promising young relievers in the league.
Meanwhile, Matt Strahm, an All-Star last season, remains an impenetrable wall, giving up zero runs over his 5.1 innings of work. But it's veteran Jose Alvarado whose resurgence has truly lit a fire for the team.
Under manager Rob Thomson's flexible bullpen strategy—eschewing defined roles for a more matchup-based approach—not all pitchers thrived. Alvarado struggled last season, watching his role diminish as time went on.
Determined not to let history repeat itself, he dedicated his offseason to improving his fitness and expanding his pitching arsenal.
That effort has clearly paid dividends. Alvarado has locked down the role of go-to reliever in late-game situations, often coming in during the eighth or ninth inning to shut things down.
"It’s easier when you know, ‘OK, this is my inning. This is the game.’
You know?" Alvarado shared, showing the confidence that’s come with newfound stability.
And he’s delivered, big time. In all six games that Alvarado has appeared, the Phillies have come out with a W.
He’s secured two saves, tallying 6.1 innings with an outstanding 1.42 ERA and racking up 12 strikeouts. His latest spotlight performance came against the Atlanta Braves, where he delivered four critical outs to earn the save—a task he hadn’t tackled in nearly two years, yet handled like a natural.
Even opponents can't help but admire his work. Austin Riley, the Braves’ third baseman, summed it up, “I mean, the guy’s throwing 101 with an unbelievable cutter.
He’s added a curveball. He’s a really, really tough pitcher.
He’s closing, coming in in the ninth for a reason.”
Whenever Alvarado takes the mound, the opposition braces for a battle. Braves manager Brian Snitker acknowledged this, stating, “That’s a tough at-bat there against that guy. Just hoping maybe he’d miss one and somebody would walk it off.”
In short, Alvarado's presence has been instrumental in the Phillies’ strong start. As others in the bullpen continue to find their footing, Alvarado’s consistency remains a cornerstone of the team's success. Here's to hoping he can keep this remarkable form going as the season unfolds.
