Phillies Reliever Shines in Injury Rehab Outing

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher José Alvarado threw another inning of scoreless relief as he continued his injury rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night.

Alvarado entered the game in the sixth inning for the Iron Pigs. He retired the first two hitters he faced, striking out Jacksonville’s Austin Allen and Peyton Burdick. After walking Jacob Amaya, Alvarado got Griffin Conine — the son of former Major Leaguer and Phillie Jeff Conine — to ground out to second base to end the inning.

It was the second scheduled rehab appearance for Alvarado, who has not pitched with the Phillies since an injury put him on the 15-day injured list.

Alvarado first pitched on Tuesday at Lehigh Valley, where he gave up a one-out single and struck out one in one inning of work.

Alvarado threw 18 pitches on Friday after a 17-pitch outing on Tuesday.

The Phillies have not determined what the next step is for Alvarado beyond his second rehab appearance.

The Phillies placed the left-hander on the 15-day injured list on July 9 due to left elbow inflammation. This is his second stint on the injured list season.

The Phillies also placed Alvarado on the 15-day injured list on May 10, also due to left elbow inflammation.

Even with the injuries, he’s been a reliable arm in the bullpen this season for Philadelphia. He hasn’t registered a decision, but he has a 1.38 ERA, which would be his career best. He had a 2.39 ERA with Tampa Bay in 2018.

He’s thrown 26 innings in 26 games, giving up just 21 hits and seven runs (four earned). He’s struck out 39 against nine walks and is allowing batters to hit .216 against him.

He has a career record of 13-18 with a 3.36 ERA with 92 holds and 28 saves. He strikes out more than 11 hitters per nine innings.