May 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Alvarado (46) is relieved by manager Rob Thomson during the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Fresh off their third straight victory, the Philadelphia Phillies will be without their closer on Monday when they open a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
Actually, they will be without him a lot longer than that.
Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80 games and is ineligible for the playoffs after testing positive for a substance that is banned under MLB’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, the league announced Sunday. It leaves a big hole at the back of Philadelphia’s bullpen and is a blow to its championship aspirations.
“We’ve got to move on,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after his team’s 1-0 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. “It’s too bad, but we’ve got to move on. We have really good pieces here that can pick up the slack.”
That begins on the mound as Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 2.91 ERA) will face off against Kyle Freeland (0-6, 6.15) in a matchup of left-handers on Monday night.
Philadelphia can do some scouting in Denver this week against a Rockies team that could be selling parts before the trade deadline. Colorado already has made major changes by firing manager Bud Black but things haven’t gotten much better under interim manager Warren Schaeffer.
The Rockies fell to a majors-worst 8-38 on the season after going 1-5 on their road trip that wrapped up in Arizona on Sunday. Colorado had a chance to win its first series of the season when it loaded the bases with one out in the ninth trailing 1-0, but a popout and lineout ended the game.
“I thought we battled this whole road trip,” Schaeffer said after the series-ending loss. “Just a couple of hits from winning some games, and if we keep playing like that, Rockies fans are going to see some wins coming.”
Monday will be Schaeffer’s debut at home since taking over as interim manager.
Colorado, which has been shut out seven times this season, is on pace to win just 28 games. Things get tougher with the next 13 games against teams sitting in first or second place in their respective divisions.
Freeland is coming off his fourth quality start of the season but has yet to turn it into a victory. One of those quality starts came in Philadelphia on April 2, which was his second outing of the season. He allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings in a game the Rockies lost 5-1.
In nine career starts against the Phillies, he is 2-4 with a 3.59 ERA.
Sanchez is facing Colorado for the fifth time in his career and is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA. He opened his season against the Rockies, a 6-1 Philadelphia win on March 31, but got a no-decision despite allowing one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Sanchez has pitched at least five innings in seven of his eight starts. His shortest outing was on April 22 at the New York Mets when he was pulled after two innings due to left forearm tightness and took his only loss of the year. He made his next start eight days later and has won the past two decisions.
–Field Level Media
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Dodgers activate Teoscar Hernández, restoring lineup to full strength amid pitching concerns
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting a key part of their lineup back. Teoscar Hernández has been activated from the injured list, the team announced on Monday.Hernández, 32, sustained a left groin strain while chasing down a line drive in the outfield during the Dodgers' game versus the Miami Marlins on May 6. At the time of his injury, he was batting .315 with a .933 OPS, 10 doubles and nine home runs, while leading MLB with 34 RBI in 33 games (136 plate appearances).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Hernández's return, outfielder James Outman was sent back down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was recalled from the minors to fill Hernández's spot on the roster. Outman, 28, was batting .125/.222/.375 with two homers and four RBI.The Dodgers may not be done making moves with their outfielders now that Hernández and Tommy Edman have been […]
7 Questions about the NBA Playoffs, the Draft, and Trade Rumors + my Kon Knueppel conversation | The Kevin O’Connor Show
Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowKOC has 7 big questions to start the week, and you need to hear them all. For starters, who does Kevin have winning the Eastern Conference Finals and how? Might the Boston Celtics consider trading Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade to the Houston Rockets? Whose NBA Draft stock is rising, and whose is FALLING? It's all on this must-hear Monday episode of the KOC Show.Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 10, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)(0:43) How long until we see Nesmith on Brunson?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:10) Will the Knicks create a size advantage?(5:38) Can KAT have the series of his life?(7:14) Can Haliburton reach a new level?(10:14) What changes should the […]
Drake unveils new curse that haunts Justin Bieber and wife Hailey
In the wake of the Toronto Maple Leafs' crushing 6-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers in Game 7, Canadian rapper Drake has attempted to redirect the long-standing superstition of his own alleged jinx on sports teams onto fellow pop star Justin Bieber.Drake, who had wagered $1 million on the Maple Leafs advancing, humorously pointed the blame elsewhere after the team's disappointing elimination in a fun sense of humor as his misfortune struck once again.Justin Bieber deletes strange filtered rant after bizarre faith monologue"Bieber curse..." Drake, real name Aubrey Graham, wrote on his Instagram Story by referencing Justin and Hailey Bieber's attendance at the Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, May 18.The 38-year-old's million-dollar bet would have earned him over $2.1 million had the Leafs advanced, but the team's collapse continues a narrative that's haunted him throughout his betting career.Jennifer Lawrence recalls 'extremely […]
Claressa Shields fires back at ‘jealous’ Cris Cyborg: ‘She’s fighting bums’
Getty Images Despite resumes that place them among the greatest female fighters in combat sports history, there is very little respect between Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg.Cyborg has won mixed martial arts championships in Strikeforce, UFC, Bellator and PFL. And she also has five wins in five trips to the boxing ring since turning professional in 2022. After scoring a first-round stoppage over the weekend, Cyborg took to X to take a shot at Shields, the undefeated phenom who has captured two Olympic gold medals and world championships in five weight classes."Only 5 boxing fights but I've already got more KO's than [Claressa Shields]," Cyborg's post read. During an appearance on "The MMA Hour," Shields addressed Cyborg's post."She's fighting bums in boxing and she's yelling out, 'Oh, I've got more knockouts than Claressa,'" Shields said. "Yeah, fighting against bums. She'll never […]
Georgia football 2025: Win total, CFP outlook, and which breakout star could define the season
Getty Images It is easy to overlook that Georgia won the SEC Championship last season — a feat that was overshadowed by a quick exit in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But with another loaded roster, the expectations are still high in Athens heading into the 2025 season. Expert Jordan Hill from Dawgs247 joined Bud Elliott on the Cover 3 College Football Summer School series to break down what success looks like for the Bulldogs this fall.What are the stakes for Georgia in 2025?No question Georgia remains a serious threat to win a national championship with Kirby Smart as head coach. The Bulldogs are just two years removed from back-to-back national titles, so anything short of a return to the College Football Playoff would feel like a step back for a program that is accustomed to elite results. But the 2025 season […]
Renato Augusto deixa Fluminense em comum acordo com clube
O Fluminense anunciou na noite desta segunda-feira a saída de Renato Augusto. O meia de 37 anos e o tricolor entraram em comum acordo para a rescisão do contato, conforme informado em nota oficial. Ele havia sido contratado no início de 2024, após deixar o Corinthians, e foi campeão da Recopa Sul-Americana no ano passado. Porém, sua passagem foi marcada por pouco tempo em campo e muitos problemas físicos. Renato sai do tricolor após ter feito 36 jogos e apenas um gol e uma assistência. A bola na rede veio diante do Atlético-MG, no dia 4 de maio de 2024, em jogo do Brasileirão. Sua passagem foi marcada por lesões, uma constante que acompanha sua carreira, além de alguns problemas musculares. O último problema foi uma luxação no ombro esquerdo, sofrida em jogo do Carioca, em fevereiro. Ele voltou a […]
Related
Dodgers activate Teoscar Hernández, restoring lineup to full strength amid pitching concerns
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting a key part of their lineup back. Teoscar Hernández has been activated from the injured list, the team announced on Monday.Hernández, 32, sustained a left groin strain while chasing down a line drive in the outfield during the Dodgers' game versus the Miami Marlins on May 6. At the time of his injury, he was batting .315 with a .933 OPS, 10 doubles and nine home runs, while leading MLB with 34 RBI in 33 games (136 plate appearances).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Hernández's return, outfielder James Outman was sent back down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was recalled from the minors to fill Hernández's spot on the roster. Outman, 28, was batting .125/.222/.375 with two homers and four RBI.The Dodgers may not be done making moves with their outfielders now that Hernández and Tommy Edman have been […]
7 Questions about the NBA Playoffs, the Draft, and Trade Rumors + my Kon Knueppel conversation | The Kevin O’Connor Show
Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowKOC has 7 big questions to start the week, and you need to hear them all. For starters, who does Kevin have winning the Eastern Conference Finals and how? Might the Boston Celtics consider trading Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster trade to the Houston Rockets? Whose NBA Draft stock is rising, and whose is FALLING? It's all on this must-hear Monday episode of the KOC Show.Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 10, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)(0:43) How long until we see Nesmith on Brunson?AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement(3:10) Will the Knicks create a size advantage?(5:38) Can KAT have the series of his life?(7:14) Can Haliburton reach a new level?(10:14) What changes should the […]
Drake unveils new curse that haunts Justin Bieber and wife Hailey
In the wake of the Toronto Maple Leafs' crushing 6-1 defeat to the Florida Panthers in Game 7, Canadian rapper Drake has attempted to redirect the long-standing superstition of his own alleged jinx on sports teams onto fellow pop star Justin Bieber.Drake, who had wagered $1 million on the Maple Leafs advancing, humorously pointed the blame elsewhere after the team's disappointing elimination in a fun sense of humor as his misfortune struck once again.Justin Bieber deletes strange filtered rant after bizarre faith monologue"Bieber curse..." Drake, real name Aubrey Graham, wrote on his Instagram Story by referencing Justin and Hailey Bieber's attendance at the Scotiabank Arena on Sunday, May 18.The 38-year-old's million-dollar bet would have earned him over $2.1 million had the Leafs advanced, but the team's collapse continues a narrative that's haunted him throughout his betting career.Jennifer Lawrence recalls 'extremely […]
Claressa Shields fires back at ‘jealous’ Cris Cyborg: ‘She’s fighting bums’
Getty Images Despite resumes that place them among the greatest female fighters in combat sports history, there is very little respect between Claressa Shields and Cris Cyborg.Cyborg has won mixed martial arts championships in Strikeforce, UFC, Bellator and PFL. And she also has five wins in five trips to the boxing ring since turning professional in 2022. After scoring a first-round stoppage over the weekend, Cyborg took to X to take a shot at Shields, the undefeated phenom who has captured two Olympic gold medals and world championships in five weight classes."Only 5 boxing fights but I've already got more KO's than [Claressa Shields]," Cyborg's post read. During an appearance on "The MMA Hour," Shields addressed Cyborg's post."She's fighting bums in boxing and she's yelling out, 'Oh, I've got more knockouts than Claressa,'" Shields said. "Yeah, fighting against bums. She'll never […]
Georgia football 2025: Win total, CFP outlook, and which breakout star could define the season
Getty Images It is easy to overlook that Georgia won the SEC Championship last season — a feat that was overshadowed by a quick exit in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But with another loaded roster, the expectations are still high in Athens heading into the 2025 season. Expert Jordan Hill from Dawgs247 joined Bud Elliott on the Cover 3 College Football Summer School series to break down what success looks like for the Bulldogs this fall.What are the stakes for Georgia in 2025?No question Georgia remains a serious threat to win a national championship with Kirby Smart as head coach. The Bulldogs are just two years removed from back-to-back national titles, so anything short of a return to the College Football Playoff would feel like a step back for a program that is accustomed to elite results. But the 2025 season […]
Renato Augusto deixa Fluminense em comum acordo com clube
O Fluminense anunciou na noite desta segunda-feira a saída de Renato Augusto. O meia de 37 anos e o tricolor entraram em comum acordo para a rescisão do contato, conforme informado em nota oficial. Ele havia sido contratado no início de 2024, após deixar o Corinthians, e foi campeão da Recopa Sul-Americana no ano passado. Porém, sua passagem foi marcada por pouco tempo em campo e muitos problemas físicos. Renato sai do tricolor após ter feito 36 jogos e apenas um gol e uma assistência. A bola na rede veio diante do Atlético-MG, no dia 4 de maio de 2024, em jogo do Brasileirão. Sua passagem foi marcada por lesões, uma constante que acompanha sua carreira, além de alguns problemas musculares. O último problema foi uma luxação no ombro esquerdo, sofrida em jogo do Carioca, em fevereiro. Ele voltou a […]
Be the first to leave a comment