Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado has been suspended by MLB for 80 games without pay after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, the league announced Sunday.

The Phillies have an abundance of starting pitching. They might have to turn one of those arms into a short-term reliever.

With Alvarado gone, Jordan Romano simply slides back into the closer job that he lost. And it's a job in which he thrived in for many years.

Mick Abel stayed under control in his major league debut. Abel outdueled Paul Skenes, striking out nine over six innings to lead Philadelphia over the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 for a three-game sweep and the Phillies’ 15th win in 20 games.

Mick Abel, who struck out nine in a dazzling debut, talked with The Inquirer about how he overcame a rough 2024 season to get back on the path to the major leagues.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred made the landmark decision to reinstate Pete Rose and 16 other deceased individuals from the league's permanently ineligible list last week. The decision, which came less than a year after Rose's death, made him eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

SportsLine's Mike McClure, a daily Fantasy pro with over $2 million in winnings, gives optimal MLB DFS lineup advice for Monday, May 19

The 23-year-old righty, who has a 2.53 ERA at triple-A Lehigh Valley, will be opposed by Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes.