Alvarado has allowed one run in 5.2 innings this spring, striking out six and walking two while allowing two hits.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado is heading into the regular season in good form and will be looking to build on the 1.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP he produced in 41.1 innings last season. Those numbers helped him record a career-high 10 saves, and he could blow past that total this season with Craig Kimbrel now in Baltimore, though there's no guarantee manager Rob Thomson ever names a proper closer.

Alvarado struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 10th save of the season in a 7-5 win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

The lefty fired 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes and topped out at 98.3 mph in another impressive performance. Alvarado appears to have supplanted Craig Kimbrel in the pecking order for saves in the Phillies' bullpen -- he has three saves since Kimbrel recorded his last one Sept. 11, with the right-hander blowing his most recent opportunity Friday. Since returning from elbow inflammation in late August, Alvarado has a 2.70 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB through 13.1 innings with four saves and five holds over 14 appearances.

Alvarado picked up the save Thursday against the Mets. He allowed a hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado worked around Brandon Nimmo's one-out double, logging a pair of strikeouts while improving to 9-for-11 in save chances. The 28-year-old Alvarado continues to split closing duties with Craig Kimbrel in Philadelphia. The left-hander's ERA is down to 1.88 with a 1.25 WHIP with 59 strikeouts across 38.1 innings this season.

Alvarado yielded a run on two hits and two walks in one inning Friday. He struck out one and earned a save against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado coughed up an RBI single to Tommy Edman with two outs in the ninth inning but struck out Lars Nootbaar with the bases jammed to close out the 5-4 victory. Alvarado has allowed two earned runs on five hits and five walks over his last five frames, pushing his season ERA to 1.98 through 36.1 innings. He picked up his first save since Sep. 4 and has now converted eight of his 10 chances.

Alvarado earned a save against the Padres on Monday, issuing two walks and striking out two batters over a hitless and scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies built a big early lead before the Padres stormed back in the sixth and seventh frames. In the eighth, usual closer Craig Kimbrel was brought in to face the top of San Diego's order and settled matters down with a scoreless frame. Alvarado followed in the ninth and quickly put himself in trouble with two straight walks before righting the ship and retiring the next three batters he faced, two by strikeout. The save was Alvarado's seventh of the season, but his first since he returned from a lengthy stay on the injured list Aug. 22. Kimbrel has emerged as a steady ninth-inning option for Philadelphia and should maintain that role most days moving forward, though as Monday highlighted, Alvarado could still sneak in the occasional save chance.

The Phillies reinstated Alvarado (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado should slide into a late-inning role for the Phillies while he rejoins the club for the first time since the All-Star break, though he likely won't factor into the equation for saves with Craig Kimbrel having seemingly solidified himself as the team's clear top closing option at this stage. Prior to being activated, the southpaw looked sharp over his two rehab appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, tossing a pair of scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing two baserunners.

Alvarado (elbow/hand) is expected to pitch Tuesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

He faced live hitters Friday and is ready to get back into game action. Alvarado recently dealt with cramping in both hands in addition to the elbow inflammation that initially landed him on the shelf. Craig Kimbrel has three saves and two blown saves in his last 10 appearances, but he has generally been pretty excellent this season, so Alvarado may not get many save opportunities once he is activated.

Alvarado's (elbow/hand) live batting practice got rained out Thursday, so he will face hitters Friday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado has been dealing the cramping in both of his hands but had already delayed his rehab start earlier in the week. That was for precautionary concerns while Thursday's delay comes due to weather. According to manager Rob Thomson, Alvarado could begin his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Alvarado (elbow/hand) will throw another bullpen session Thursday rather than begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado has been dealing with cramping in both of his hands, so the Phillies will delay his rehab stint a couple of days to make sure that it doesn't become a lingering issue. He is recovered from the bout of elbow inflammation that initially sent him to the injured list in early July, and this shouldn't be too much of a setback.

Alvarado (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Thursday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado has made good progress since landing on the injured list in early July with an elbow issue, and he is nearly ready for the final step in his recovery.