Alvarado's suspension was reduced to two games upon appeal and will be served starting Monday, source reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado was handed what was originally a three-game ban after his overly animated celebration of a strikeout Thursday against the Mets caused both benches to clear. The Phillies will now be without their top lefty for two games.

Alvarado was handed a three-game suspension Sunday but will continue to play while appealing the ban, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old received the suspension for his role in Thursday's benches-clearing incident with the Mets. He was the only player to be suspended for either team, though Dominic Smith and Miguel Castro were fined on the New York side. Alvarado will remain available until his appeal is heard.

Alvarado returned from the COVID-19 injured list Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado spent a week away from the team, though it's unclear if he tested positive for the virus himself. He should be a key piece for the Phillies upon his return, as he owns a 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 5.2 innings this season.

Alvarado was placed on the injured list Monday for an unspecified reason, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies placed two coaches in the league's health and safety protocols, and Alvarado was one of three Phillies to land on the injured list. The fact that the team didn't provide a reason for Alvarado's placement on the IL suggests that he could be on the COVID-19 injured list. If that's the case, Alvarado will be eligible to return once he clears the league's health and safety protocols as long as he doesn't test positive for the virus. Alvarado has posted a 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 5.2 innings this year.

Alvarado (2-0) pitched a clean eighth inning while also walking a batter as he was awarded his second win of the season in a 7-6 victory over the Braves on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado led off the eighth by walking Travis d'Arnaud but was able to retire the next three hitters and get out of the inning without much sweat. He earned his second win of the year after the Phillies were able to tack on the go-ahead run in the ninth, but it was the first outing of the season that the 25-year-old flamethrower failed to record a strikeout. Alvarado has allowed one run in 4.2 innings and boasts a 9:1 K:BB as he continues to assert himself as one of the game's most dominant relievers.

Alvarado collected his first save of the season Monday, giving up a run on three hits while striking out two in the ninth inning of a 5-3 win over the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

With Hector Neris having pitched three times in the last four days, it was Alvarado's turn to protect a late lead. The lefty made things interesting by giving up three straight two-out singles before Pete Alonso came within about five feet of an opposite-field homer, but it still went into the books as Alvarado's first save with his new club. It's noteworthy that he got the call over Archie Bradley in a save situation, a decision which may have been prompted by lefty Brandon Nimmo leading off the ninth for the Mets, but Neris remains the primary closing option for the Phillies.

Alvarado (1-0) tossed a scoreless inning and struck out two in Sunday's win against the Braves.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado tossed an eventful inning in his previous appearance -- allowing three baserunners and fanning three of the six batters he faced -- but looked far more dominant this time around, tossing eight of his 10 pitches for strikes and making quick work of the eighth inning. He's not expected to look this dominant on a regular basis, but this was an encouraging outing for the talented -- yet inconsistent -- lefty.

Alvarado allowed three baserunners (a walk, a single and a hit by pitch) but didn't allow a run in his inning of work Thursday against Atlanta, striking out three.

EDGE Analysis

The outing gave Phillies fans the full Jose Alvarado experience in his first game with his new club. He struck out half the batters he faced and only allowed one out of six to make contact, but he also loaded the bases. A steady diet of both walks and strikeouts should be expected from the lefty this year, as he owns a career 28.1 percent strikeout rate and a 12.3 percent walk rate.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday that Alvarado would open the season as one of the top setup men for closer Hector Neris, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though Neris should be in line to receive the bulk of the save chances to begin the season, Alvarado -- the lone southpaw in the bullpen -- could factor into the ninth-inning mix when the Phillies face lefty-heavy lineups. Alvarado missed extended time in both of his final two seasons with the Rays due to arm injuries, but he was healthy and effective this spring, striking out 13 while holding opposing hitters to a .167 average over 8.1 innings.

Alvarado will be the only left-hander in the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen after JoJo Romero was optioned Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Alvarado pitched himself into the closer mix alongside Hector Neris and Archie Bradley this spring, showing significantly improved conditioning and triple-digit heat. As the lone lefty in that trio, Alvarado would figure to earn save chances when opposing left-handers are due up in the ninth inning should the Phillies adopt a committee approach, but manager Joe Girardi has expressed a preference for a traditional closer. It may be tough for Girardi to give Alvarado the role, as that would leave him without any southpaws to deploy prior to the ninth inning.