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Phillies Going With a New Closer
Published:
Phils news:
Jose Alvarado will get first crack at save opportunities for now for #Phillies, according to Joe Girardi.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) June 25, 2021
This presents the Phillies with a variety of ways to lose. Alvarado could possibly hit the batter, walk him, or throw 101 mph into the dirt and past the catcher. There will be no lack of excitement in the 9th inning.
But joke’s aside, Hector Neris blew 5 of 15 save opportunities this season and three of his last five. Alvarado is walking 7.8 batters per nine innings and has control issues, but batters are only hitting .167 against him this season and he remains the highest-upside arm in the bullpen. He also hasn’t given up an earned run in his last six appearances.
The Phils are 34-37. They’ve lost six of their last eight. You’re not gonna see wholesale changes in the middle of the season, so here comes a minor tweak and we’ll see how it goes. It is what it is.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com