It’s unusual that a relief pitcher would be considered a team’s most valuable player, but it’s clear to anyone watching the Phillies that, right now, Jose Alvarado is this team’s most indispensable player.
Think about it. The starting rotation is stacked, so even if the Phils were to lose Zack Wheeler for a bit, it’s reasonable to think they could get through it. The offense has struggled all season to consistently score runs, and while losing a power bat like Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper would be difficult to overcome, it’s reasonable to believe the offense could soldier on without one for a time.