The Philadelphia Phillies are riding high, standing second with a record of 37-26. It looks like a dream season is on the way. But for those noticing closely, a persistent problem is slowly ruining their spectacular run. Jose Alvarado, their best reliever, has faced a suspension, leading to a void in the bullpen.

The baseball gods have their plans! Just when everything was going well, the Phillies are finding themselves under the bus. Alvarado’s 80-game suspension for breaking MLB’s rules against performance-enhancing drugs has not only kept him from playing, but it has also made him ineligible for the playoffs. Talk about unfortunate timings!

Now, will they look for solutions internally? Um, looks like they don’t have many options left after Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez chose to go to free agency. Then, if they decide to look outside, the potential solution? Aroldis Chapman.

The seasoned closer for the Boston Red Sox might be the man the Phillies need to fix their bullpen problems. This season, he’s playing like an All-Star. He has a significant 1.80 ERA in 27 games since joining the Red Sox for one year and $10.75 million in the offseason. He has 33 strikeouts in 25.0 innings, and he has saved 9 of 10 chances.

These aren’t simply good stats; they’re numbers that make you an exceptional closer. He’s exhibiting the speed, control, and calmness that have made his career so great.

On the contrary, the Boston Red Sox, who are now struggling in the AL East, might consider dealing this key player if they decide to rebuild for the future. And getting a proven closer like Chapman could be the key for the Phillies to improve their bullpen and their chances of making it to the playoffs.

The Phillies may get a lot out of the trade, but it would take careful bargaining. Adding a player of this quality might provide the team with the experience and stability it needs to get through the tough times of the postseason. And they need to find it soon. Otherwise, they might have to face more losses like the latest one.

The Phillies are going from contenders to question marks

People are worried about the Philadelphia Phillies‘ recent play because they lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 9-1 on Thursday, their sixth loss in seven games. This dip has made problems with their pitching and their offense more evident.

Starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo had a patchy game on Thursday, giving up eight runs and nine hits in only 2 1/3 innings. This effort came after he gave up 12 earned runs against Milwaukee – the most he had ever given up in a game.

And Thursday’s 9-1 score wasn’t their only loss. The game before that also highlighted bullpen problems.

The Phillies’ 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday was another instance of the Phillies’ troubles, especially when the stakes are high. Nick Castellanos’ solo home run gave the Phillies a good start. But their offense fell apart, only getting four hits in six innings against Jose Berrios. Mick Abel, a rookie pitcher, did a great job, giving up only one run in 5 1/3 innings. But the bullpen’s inconsistency was very much visible when Jordan Romano gave up the game-winning run in the ninth inning against his old team.

Now, the million-dollar question is: How long can they hang like this? A recent streak of losses and problems with their performance suggests that they need to make some strategic changes. Probably Champan can break things lose… What do you think?