DENVER (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies entered this season with World Series aspirations, and José Alvarado was one of the reasons for that optimism.
Alvarado has been a successful closer this year, but he left a hole in the back of Philadelphia’s bullpen when he was suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball on Sunday after a positive test for external testosterone.
The suspension was handed down a day before the Phillies began a seven-game trip Monday night against the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said he does not expect his relievers to change their approach.
“Just do your thing and try not to do more than who you are, because I truly believe we have enough stuff in our 'pen,” Thomson said. “We do. Just don’t try to do too much. Throw strikes. Just be yourselves, and we’ll get it done.”
Alvarado is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a team-leading seven saves, but Thomson has also used right-hander Jordan Romano in the ninth inning. Romano has five saves, Matt Strahm has two and Taijuan Walker one.
Other candidates could emerge as Thomson tinkers with his bullpen.
“We’ve got to find out about some other guys, too,” Thomson said. “Joe Ross hasn’t pitched in eight days, so he’s got to pitch tonight, and that might be a leverage spot. Same thing with (José) Ruiz. We’ve had (Tanner) Banks in some leverage spots lately, and he’s done a fine job.”
Philadelphia bolstered its bullpen heading into the road trip. The Phillies called up right-hander Max Lazar from Triple-A and optioned Mick Abel, who won his big league debut Sunday with nine strikeouts against Pittsburgh — a club record for a pitcher in his first major league game.
Lazar is an option against righties or lefties, Thomson said.
“He’s actually pitching really well, and his velocity is really good,” Thomson said. “He’s throwing a lot of strikes, breaking ball’s been really good, and he’s kind of a neutral split. So if we need to, he can get lefties out.”
Barring rainouts, Alvarado would be eligible to return on Aug. 19 against Seattle. He would lose $4.5 million, exactly half his $9 million salary this year, as part of a $22 million, three-year contract.
Because of the suspension, he is ineligible for the postseason.
Thomson said he won’t hesitate to use Alvarado in the ninth inning during the last six weeks of the regular season despite not having him available in October if the Phillies make the playoffs.
“If he’s pitching well, yeah,” Thomson said of using Alvarado as a closer. “We’ve got to get there.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Philadelphia Phillies' José Alvarado pitches during the eighth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2025--
Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NXDR), the essential neighborhood network, today announced expanded integrations for Nextdoor Alerts, implementing real-time earthquake data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This integration, along with the recent addition of Waze’s road and traffic data, significantly broadens the scope of critical, timely information available on Nextdoor – cementing the platform’s real-time value.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251219377420/en/
Since launching Nextdoor Alerts as part of the New Nextdoor in July 2025 with The Weather Company, Samdesk, and PowerOutage.us, the platform has delivered 3.7 million alerts – an approximately 400% increase in alerts delivered since launch. Neighbors can comment on these alerts and have real-time conversations, keeping each other informed. New partnerships with organizations like Waze and integrations with USGS demonstrate Nextdoor's sustained investment in essential neighborhood information. To date, the most engaged alerts measured by neighborhood conversations include dual Tsunami Watches for Orange County and San Diego County coastal areas on July 29, and most recently, a magnitude 4.03 earthquake near San Ramon, California, on December 14.
"We know that Nextdoor plays a critical role for neighbors before, during, and after disasters," said Nirav Tolia, CEO and Co-Founder of Nextdoor. "Integrating with USGS alert data exemplifies our continued commitment to providing reliable, real-time safety information to help neighbors make informed decisions and connect with neighbors.”
USGS Integration Delivers Neighborhood-Specific Disaster Data
Nextdoor neighbors will receive earthquake alerts that affect their neighborhood in real time. The alerts appear at the top of the Nextdoor newsfeed and are delivered via push notification if they are severe enough. The key difference between receiving an alert via Nextdoor or other alert providers is the ability to converse with your neighbors about the alert information. After neighbors receive the alert, they can use Nextdoor to check on neighbors, offer resources, and share real-time local information.
Alerts Map for Public Agency Partners
Nextdoor Alerts Map is also now available for public agency partners. The Nextdoor Alerts Map displays real-time information from Nextdoor’s alerting partners using Nextdoor’s API. These range from everyday alerts on weather, traffic, and public safety to critical alerts on power outages, severe weather, earthquakes, and fires.
Agencies can actively engage with their communities through the Nextdoor Alerts Map by monitoring alerts in their area and participating in real time. Officials can react to alerts, respond to neighbor questions with clarifying information, share links to official agency posts for ongoing updates, and reshare alerts to amplify or provide additional context.
To learn more about Nextdoor Alerts, visit Nextdoor.com.
About Nextdoor
Nextdoor is the essential neighborhood network for over 100 million verified neighbors, offering trusted local news, real-time safety alerts, neighbor recommendations, for sale and free listings, and events. Nextdoor connects neighbors to the people, places, and information that matter most in their local communities. In addition, businesses, news publishers, and public agencies use Nextdoor to share important information and engage with neighbors at scale. Download the app or join the neighborhood at nextdoor.com. For more information and media assets, visit nextdoor.com/newsroom.
Source: Nextdoor Holdings, Inc.
Public Agency Alert Map
Earthquake alerts on Nextdoor
