5:13pm: No Phillies players are known to have tested positive for COVID, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
3:27pm: The Phillies announced that they have placed a pair of left-handers – Jose Alvarado and Matt Moore – as well as infielder Ronald Torreyes on the COVID-19 injured list for undisclosed reasons. The club recalled lefties Damon Jones and Cristopher Sanchez to fill in for Alvarado and Moore, while infielder Nick Maton is up for Torreyes. It’s unknown how much time Alvarado, Moore and Torreyes will miss.
Alvarado, an offseason pickup from Tampa Bay, has been a key part of the Phillies’ bullpen so far. Through 5 2/3 innings, the 25-year-old has averaged a career-high 99.5 mph on his fastball and held hitters to one run on four hits and two walks, also adding 10 strikeouts.
Moore hasn’t fared nearly as well as Alvarez. The 31-year-old returned from a one-year stint in Japan in free agency on a $3MM guarantee, and while he did claim a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, his first three starts have been a disaster. Eleven innings into his season, Moore has yielded 12 earned runs on 17 hits, including four homers, and 12 walks (15 strikeouts).
Torreyes has garnered the least playing time of the three, having appeared in three games and totaled five plate appearances so far.
In other Phillies news, the team announced that first base coach Paco Figueroa and and coaching assistant Bobby Meacham have entered COVID protocols. Infield coach Juan Castro will take over for Figueroa during his absence, while Triple-A LeHigh Valley manager Gary Jones will handle third base duties. Meacham had been filling in since third base coach Dusty Wathan went into COVID protocols last week.
“…his (Moore) first three starts have been a disaster.”
As the Phillies are
one of the teams I watch, I’d suggest :disaster” is an understatement.
The Phillies still, as of this writing, have a winning record. They are neither as good as their start (5-1) nor as bad as their recent road trip suggests. They are a mediocre team with a few outstanding players and a PBO who has shown a willingness to spend if their future performance justifies it. I wonder if COVID has affected Moore’s performance; he was much better in spring training.
Oh, Sammy. You’re so understated; however, your elegant prose always wow us. Keep up the fantastic work. You’re a blessing.
good for the trio who was called up, all can make MLB debuts
Odubel Herrera-it’s time Joe, You promised fairness, now keep that promise
I am afraid that Herrera was slipped a Mickey.
@captain dunsel
That was pretty funny! I see what you did there.
Herrera doesn’t really match up with this batch of players – two pitchers and the IF backup. If anything, Kingery matched up better.
Besides – Girardi isn’t the final say on callups, Dombrowski is.
oh no! I feel so bad for Odubel. smh cmon.
The only thing Odubel Herrera is good at hitting are women.
Yes
Porcello?
Good for Sanchez. I guess Romero is not injured.
oh brother…
It’s still hard to believe that Rick Porcello and Shane Greene remain unsigned!
no thanks and no thanks
Really? You wouldn’t take Greene? He might not be an ace reliever, but he’s far from a mop-up guy. He can close games and pitches well in high leverage situations.
i mean I wouldn’t complain but the pen is fine right now and I’m not interested in slashing half of our cap space for a guy who may or may not be ready to pitch any time soon.
I’m more surprised about Greene but I’m surprised a rebuilding team didn’t offer Porcello a 1 year 3 million dollar contract to eat innings.
You figure some team would have offered Greene a guarenteed one year deal by now. There’s a whole lot worse relievers out there. I would have thought he may have signed with a rebuilding club at least so he could get traded at the deadline to a contender.
Maybe they did. I can see him declining an offer like that to pay for a “rebuilding team.”
“Play” for, that is.
I understand not wanting to really want to play with a rebuilding club, but we’re almost in the third week of April. I think by the end of Spring Training, you just have to take what you can get.
His innings eating would be no better than Moore’s. Look at last year’s statistics. It’s no wonder he’s unsigned
is Cole Hamels doing ok? I would be really sad if he retires, sadly it’s looking to be that way.
he’s probably just biding his time.
Phillies are unlikely to pay much for FA pitching. I don’t see Hamels returning to Philly.
They still won’t release Moore 9.28 ERA he was ineffective for awhile now.
He’s owed $3 million, releasing him would be a last resort, and is unlikely.
yeah I think there was a solid shot he’d be moving to the pen first. very possible this hastens that.
Hopefully just general soreness from the vaccine and they can return quickly.
Alvarado is a huge loss. Sanchez is an exciting call-up though, hopefully he does better than Moore has, shouldn’t be too hard.
The major difference with the Phillies is that their bullpen is actually serviceable this year. The recent road trip disaster mainly due to horrendous offense. I see no reason why the Phillies can’t compete for the division or a wildcard. Braves and Mets are going to be tough once they get going though, so the Phillies need to step it up right now. Glaring holes in the backend of the rotation and at CF, but that’s nothing new sadly.
Not to sound harsh, but I’d be okay with Moore and Torreyes not returning. I’m a huge fan of Moore, but he’s been horrendous. Torreyes has not hit a lick and has had horrific at bats. I know Girardi likes him, but enough already.
Matt Moore looked so good early in his career–sad that injuries derail so many careers. Will always be a fan, hope he can turn it around.
with the Covid protocols, it means we will see Vince take a rotation slot..Just what I want to see..He’ll have 67 pitches in the 3rd inning..it will be 4 walks a wild pitch, and one hit resulting in 3 runs..When I see him on the mound, I get the same feeling in my stomach I get when Hector Scare-us comes into a tight game..
What is it with the Phillies center fielders? Non of them can hit anything..