José Alvarado

Eighteen days ago, when Alvarado saved a Sept. 4 win in San Diego, he started to feel the energy, and like himself again. His mom noticed.

It's September, but it does not feel like everything is held together by duct tape as in previous Septembers. Yet the pen looks vulnerable.

Taking stock of the Phillies' enviable bullpen situation. Plus, Ranger Suárez's sizzling inning and the latest on Alec Bohm's return.

It'll be a test for the next two weeks — at least — without Alvarado because no one can replace him.

It's one thing to overcome a crushing pitch in the World Series. But Alvarado, the best reliever in MLB right now, has done more than that.

José Alvarado and Soto have combined to allow two earned runs in 16 2/3 innings with 30 strikeouts and four walks since April 1.

At least 12 pitchers who were invited to big-league camp have adopted a cutter in the past year. It's become an organizational philosophy.

The new deal will take him through the 2025 season and includes a club option for 2026.

From Mick Abel to Zack Wheeler, notes on all of the 34 Phillies pitchers who will soon start spring training in Clearwater, Fla.

For weeks, the moments never seemed too big. The Phillies crashed the World Series. They will have months to ponder what could have been.

The Astros defeated the Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series to win their second title in franchise history.

The Phillies now face adversity, a rare occurrence during this surreal sprint toward a championship. How will they approach Games 5 and 6?

"This is probably the game to be aggressive if we had to. The game kind of just dictated that. It just felt like the thing to do."

Plus a closer look at Rhys Hoskins, José Alvarado and Brandon Kintzler in this week's report on the good and the bad of Phillies baseball.

Greg Jewett highlights the starting pitchers with RP-eligibility and longshot closers who could prove to be fantasy baseball impact players.

Alvarado put in the work and cut way back on his beloved mom's cooking to drop weight before Phillies camp. Now he's hitting 100 mph.

The deal for the LHP is a good early test for the front office's new evaluation methods and for pitching coach Caleb Cotham's techniques.

While some players established themselves as long-term starters, others battled injuries or setbacks and learned they have much to do.