The news of José Alvarado’s suspension broke on the morning of May 18, shortly before Mick Abel threw a gem in his major-league debut for the Phillies. Eighty games later, Alvarado is back, and a lot has changed in South Philadelphia since he last pitched.
Alvarado, who will still be ineligible in the postseason after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug, was activated by the Phillies on Tuesday to rejoin a bullpen that now includes star closer Jhoan Duran after the club flipped Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait to the Twins for him at the deadline. Alvarado was the team’s best reliever when he went out, but now he can help form the bridge to Duran for the stretch run.