Phillies’ lefty bullpen concerns mount as struggling José Alvarado unravels vs. Mets
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José Alvarado, intended to be part of the high-leverage core of Phillies relievers, has been extremely shaky. Hunter Martin / Getty Images
By Charlotte VarnesJune 19, 2026 UpdatedPHILADELPHIA — The difference between an inning-ending strikeout and a multi-run mess for the Phillies came down to a scrape on the baseball.
The top of the seventh seemingly ended when a foul tip was called, with Phillies reliever José Alvarado striding off the mound before further review revealed the ball had hit the dirt by home plate. Alvarado returned, and it took six more pitches for everything to unravel, culminating in Justin Crawford scrambling to the wall in center and the New York Mets’ Marcus Semien sprinting from the batters’ box to third. The Mets, who entered the seventh tied 3-3 with the Phillies, left the inning holding a three-run lead en route to a 6-4 win at Citizens Bank Park.
“In spots like that, I’m always optimistic,” Alvarado said via interpreter Diego D’Aniello, “so I try to remain optimistic and control my mind and stay calm.”
The optimism did not yield much in another difficult outing for Alvarado, whose batting average against rose to .313 and whose ERA increased to 6.58 in 26 innings this season. He has emerged as a question mark in the bullpen, one group with which the Phillies have cultivated real depth.
How did The Miz get this good, this fast?Derek VanRiper and Eno SarrisMuch of that depth, however, is right-handed. Seth Johnson pitched perhaps his best big-league inning on Thursday, striking out two in a 17-pitch inning. Max Lazar was excellent on back-to-back days earlier in the week. Bryse Wilson, who was added to the 40-man roster on Thursday, pitched two innings. They are all righties.
The Phillies entered 2026 with what looked like a strong set of lefties on the Opening Day roster: Alvarado, Tanner Banks, Kyle Backhus and Tim Mayza. Not much has gone to plan for them since then. The group has a 1.64 WHIP (25th in MLB), 4.95 ERA (26th) and a .280 batting average against (30th). As for their individual seasons:
- Alvarado: 19 earned runs in 26 innings (in 26 innings last season, he gave up just 11, though he was suspended for PED usage in May 2025)
- Banks: Optioned to Triple A on Thursday; 5.86 ERA in 27 2/3 innings and .328 batting average against after a breakthrough in 2025
- Backhus: On a rehab assignment in Triple A after going on the injured list with elbow inflammation on April 30; two earned runs in 8 1/3 MLB innings in April
- Mayza: .213 batting average against, 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 innings
“We definitely need arms today and some length,” interim manager Don Mattingly said before Thursday’s game. “In general, (Banks) just has to be better. This gives him a chance to reset, work on his stuff (and) exactly what he wants to do and get himself back on the right track.”
So, the Phillies are down to two lefties in the bullpen: Alvarado and Mayza. Alvarado, part of the high-leverage core, has been extremely shaky. He had gone four days without pitching before his appearance on Thursday; he had allowed four earned runs across 5 2/3 innings in June entering the outing.
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The underlying metrics are not everything, but they are positive. His strikeout rate is still high (27.5 percent), his hard-hit rate ranks among the best in MLB (28.8 percent), his chase and whiffs rates are competitive, and his velocity has stayed steady.
“When you look back at the Alvy from the past,” Alvarado said, “(I) maybe threw a lot more balls. Now I’m more in the strike zone, staying more consistent with that. And hitters feel confident that they can hit against me right now. It seems like 100 mph is something they see a lot at this level. It’s not surprising anymore.”
It’s prompted some reflection. Alvarado has thought about pitching more like he used to, about mixing it up more in the zone, but said, “Today I just feel happy that I’m throwing strikes.”
Nineteen of his 29 pitches thrown on Thursday were strikes. That did not save him from another tough outing. He walked Mark Vientos, whom he had in a 1-2 count, on three straight uncompetitive pitches. The triple Semien sent flying toward center came on an elevated sinker with two strikes. All of it cost the Phillies a chance at a series-opening win against a struggling division rival.
“We (will) just keep paying attention to (Alvarado),” Mattingly said. “Ball’s coming out. It’s not like he’s down velo or anything like that. Just got to get the ball in the right spots.”
With Alvarado’s shakiness and Banks’ demotion, there is an opening for another lefty to emerge. Perhaps it is Mayza. Or Backhus, who could return from the IL while the Phillies are on the road next week. It is there for the taking.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
