Phillies place Jose Alvarado on restricted list to deal with personal matter

Just 40 minutes before the Phillies opened a three-game series against the Astros at Citizens Bank Park, they placed LHP Jose Alvarado on the restricted list, leaving the club to deal with a personal matter.

Michael Mercado was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Alvarado was at the ballpark earlier Monday afternoon, then left before batting practice after a meeting with team officials. There were no further details on his situation.

No timetable exists when a player is placed on the restricted list. A player on the restricted list remains under contract but is removed from his team’s active roster.

Alvarado came into the season as one of, if not the top arm in the Phillies’ bullpen. However, he has not lived up to that title in 2024. In 56 appearances, he has a 4.30 ERA and 52 strikeouts. It has been recently where Alvarado has struggled. In his last 13.1 innings, he has a 5.40 ERA allowing 14 hits, eight earned runs, and nine walks. His last outing on Tuesday in Atlanta was especially brutal, as he walked four of the six batters he faced.

The Phillies earlier on Monday made a handful of roster moves, placing Weston Wilson on the paternity list, recalling Max Lazar from Lehigh Valley to replace Wilson on the 26-man roster, optioning Kolby Allard to Lehigh Valley, and finally calling Buddy Kennedy up from Lehigh Valley. Kennedy is active and will wear No. 19.

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