On the morning of May 18, the Philadelphia Phillies' season took a turn with the unfortunate breaking news of José Alvarado being suspended for 80 games. Alvarado had been the most reliable arm in a bullpen that struggled early on and has very little depth.
The Phillies will have to dig deep to find certain players to step up in his absence, not only for the 80 regular season games but also the entirety of the postseason. The question is, who is ready to answer the call?
The Phillies will continue using the bullpen the same way it has been all season. The pitchers used will be based on favorable match-ups in certain late-game situations. These are the players who need to step up throughout the season, especially until anyone else is added at the trade deadline.
Phillies need these four relievers to step up after José Alvarado's suspension
Jordan Romano, RHP
The easy answer to lead the group who needs to step up is Jordan Romano, the man who got a one-year, $8.5 million deal to take over the roles of Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman. He was already the one who needed to step up and had failed to do so through much of April. After a brutal start to the season, the right-hander has turned around his 2025 season. Romano had a 12.96 ERA in April and looked like nothing could go right for the Phillies' acquisition.
However, things have taken a turn for the better. Nine of his last 10 innings have been scoreless, and he has an 0.93 ERA since April 22. Romano has stepped up big time, picking up three saves in three opportunities in May, while throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out 10, including striking out the side twice.
His role has become even more important as the veteran right-hander, after losing closing innings, will be the go-to arm now to save games. He has earned the organization's and fans' trust a little more in May.
Matt Strahm, LHP
The next arm up for the Phillies is Matt Strahm, who has become the most important left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. The Phillies will turn to the 2024 All-Star more than ever now. Strahm has been a pitcher who seems ready for any challenge he has thrown, as when the Phillies turned him into a starter for part of the 2023 season, he threw well. When he went back to the bullpen, he became an All-Star.
Now he becomes the everyday eighth- or ninth-inning man, pending match-ups. Strahm has thrown well overall this season, posting a 2.89 ERA while earning two saves and five holds. Despite the higher ERA than a season ago, he has solid numbers against contact, and his highest K/9 numbers since his rookie season in 2016.
He has been unlucky at times and will be ready to continue to answer the call when the Phillies need him. He has become the most trusted reliever in the bullpen this season. After posting a 3.60 ERA in April, he currently has a 2.70 ERA in May and continues to get stronger.
Orion Kerkering, RHP
The second right-handed arm that needs to pick up the absence of Alvarado is Orion Kerkering. He had already earned the organization's trust when the Phillies did not add another reliever for late in the games, demonstrating the trust he was expected to come into the 2025 season, earning more high-leverage situations.
Much like Romano, Kerkering did not answer the call well through the first month of the season. While he has not been as sharp as Romano in May, he has been a lot better than a month ago. Kerkering has a chance to answer a second call because he must become the second most reliable right-handed piece out of the bullpen.
On the season, Kerkering is 3-1 while posting a 4.08 ERA in 20 appearances. Over his last seven games, he has thrown 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run. His command has not been as strong as it needs to be, walking four in those innings but finding ways around situations.
The biggest spot he needs to improve is limiting inherited runners from scoring when coming into games. Five of his inherited 12 baserunners have scored this season, after only allowing three to score all of last season.
Tanner Banks, LHP
The final name to mention might come as a surprise to some people, but the Phillies need Tanner Banks to step up more than ever, as they have only two lefties now. Banks was a trade deadline acquisition in 2024 and needs to throw well. He will not find himself in the highest leverage situations like Romano, Strahm and Kerkering, but he needs to be a reliable and trusted reliever in certain spots when Strahm is unavailable.
Baseball is a long season, and it's only May, so the Phillies need to be creative in keeping everyone healthy and fresh for the playoffs, and that is where Banks needs to pick up the innings that Strahm was earning before losing Alvarado. Banks started the year a lot stronger than he has been as of late. After ending the month of April with a 3.38 ERA, he has posted a 5.40 ERA in May, bringing his season total to a 4.15 ERA. One good number is his 24 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings of work.