The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t lose a closer recently; they lost a sense of stability. Jose Alvarado, one of the few dependable arms in the shaky bullpen, is now suspended for 80 games! He tested positive for external testosterone and is out of the picture. And no, not just for the regular season, but the playoffs, too. For a team like the Phillies, which is already standing on thin ice when it comes to consistency, this is a major problem.

Their ERA is sitting at 4.48—the 10th worst in the league. Plus, right now, the options are thin, and the one name that’s making the rounds is David Robertson. MLB’s Mark Feinsand reported that the Phillies actually reached out to the veteran just last week.

Now, nothing is official yet, but there seems to be a mutual interest. And honestly, it all makes sense. Robertson is not new to the Philly world—he had a brief run with them in 2019, which was cut short because of Tommy John surgery. He came back in 2022 and posted an eye-watering 2.70 in 23 innings. He also brings plenty of postseason experience with him. Plus, given that he was with the New York Yankees before, the high pressure is something he can handle.

However, one crucial thing to note is that David Robertson is not at his peak. And he hasn’t pitched this season. But right now, in a bullpen that’s starved of some leadership and needs some calm, Robertson could be the one they need.

As far as internal options go, things are not looking good for the Phillies. Jordan Romano’s got a 7.27 ERA, so he’s not screaming confidence. Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering have done well, but still, the group doesn’t have one person to fill the shoes of Alvarado. Sure, at 40 years old, Robertson might not be a flashy move, but he is reliable. Maybe a veteran can make a difference between surviving this summer or falling apart completely.

Mick Abel’s debut brings hope for the Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have been juggling plenty of setbacks. Sure, the Jose Alvarado suspension is a gut punch. But they also lost Aaron Nola. However, you have to give it to the Phillies that even amidst all the chaos, the team made a bold move. They called up Mick Abel, someone who is no stranger to big expectations. He was once a first-round pick and a top 100 prospect, and was called the next big ace in the Phillies.

But if we are being real, the last year was tough for Abel —actually, really tough. His ERA ballooned to 6.46, and he walked more batters than anyone was comfortable with. The hype was replaced by doubt. But slowly, Abel is starting to rise again, and he dominated the Triple-A with 2.53 in 2025. So it’s not surprising that when the Philadelphia Phillies needed a reliable pitcher, they picked him.

So far, what a successful debut he has had! He showed up big time against the Pittsburgh Pirates’ star, Paul Skenes. Six shutout innings, zero walks, and nine strikeouts! Abel himself was more than thrilled with his debut and even shared his feelings on Instagram: “A day I’ll never forget! Thank you to those who were able to come support and to those who watched from afar. I’m so grateful for all of your support throughout this journey. Thank you to the Phillies for providing an opportunity for a kid to achieve his dream. ❤️” Well, a complete redemption story!

However, the Phillies still face a tough road ahead. Whether with suspensions, injuries, and uncertainty, they can storm through perfectly remains to be seen. Do you think they can? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.