PHILADELPHIA -- José Alvarado is back in the Phillies' bullpen -- for now.
The left-hander was reinstated from the restricted list prior to Tuesday night's game against the Mariners at Citizens Bank Park after serving an 80-game suspension following a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. Alvarado, though, is ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
"I feel so good," Alvarado said before the game. "I'm happy to be back with my teammates."
Prior to his suspension, Alvarado had undoubtedly been Philadelphia’s best reliever. He had a 2.70 ERA while converting all seven of his save opportunities. He also had 25 strikeouts to just four walks over 20 innings.
Alvarado's role, however, is a bit unclear upon his return.
Though Alvarado was handling the bulk of the save opportunities at the time of his suspension, that role is now held by Trade Deadline acquisition Jhoan Duran. As for where Alvarado slots in now, that remains to be seen.
Ideally, the Phillies will work Alvarado back in slowly in some low-leverage spots initially. Beyond that, it will depend on how he performs and what the team's needs are per that day’s game.
"It's just another high-leverage arm," manager Rob Thomson said. "I'm going to ease him -- try to ease him, can't promise that. But yeah, just a great arm, a lot of energy. He brings a lot to the table in that clubhouse."
To make room for Alvarado on the active roster, the Phils optioned Nolan Hoffman, who had been recalled on Monday afternoon and made his MLB debut later that night. Max Lazar was optioned on Monday to make for Hoffman with the Phillies in need of another arm after taxing their bullpen in Sunday's 11-9 win over the Nationals.
Thus, Alvarado essentially took the roster spot that had been occupied by Lazar since the day Alvarado went on the restricted list. Another potential option would have been moving on from Jordan Romano, whose season ERA sits at 7.56 after allowing two runs in one-third of an inning on Monday night.
It's been an all-or-nothing type season for Romano.
The veteran right-hander has allowed eight home runs with runners on base -- the most by any reliever in MLB. That's led to some major blow-up outings.
Consider this: In the 40 appearances in which Romano has not allowed a home run this season, he has a 2.29 ERA and opponents are hitting just .161 against him. But in the eight appearances in which Romano has allowed a homer, he has a 36.95 ERA (26 earned runs in just 6 1/3 innings).
"He either shuts people down or he gives up two or three runs," Thomson said. " ... It just seems like it's been one of those years. But it's still good stuff, he gets swing-and-miss when he's on."
So, for now, Romano remains in the bullpen in a low-leverage role. Joe Ross is also a lower-leverage guy, while David Robertson is still working his way back into the mix. Duran, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks have been doing the bulk of the heavy lifting.
Alvarado could potentially help that quartet in some high-leverage spots over the final six weeks. But he won't be available come October.
"It's hard, man. It's hard because I know I want to be there," Alvarado said. "But that happened, and I'm here to do my best to do everything I can to help the team win a lot of games."
As for the type of reaction Alvarado will get the first time he trots in from the bullpen, he said he's not setting any expectations one way or the other.
"I'm ready for everything," he said.