Alvarado lands on IL for second time this season

MIAMI – José Alvarado is one of the Phillies’ most indispensable pitchers, which makes his second trip to the injured list in two months because of inflammation in his left elbow even more of a concern.

The Phillies placed Alvarado on the 15-day IL on Sunday with the same injury that caused him to miss most of May and early June. The team recalled right-hander Andrew Bellatti from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his place on the 26-man roster.

“It’s been lingering for a while, but I was able to throw,” Alvarado said in the visitor's clubhouse at loanDepot park. “It started after the off day in Chicago [on June 26]. It’s weird because I don’t really know what it is anymore. The trainers don’t really know what it is, but we’re taking it as inflammation.”

No MRI exam or injection is scheduled, the Phillies said.

“There’s always concern, but it’s basically the same thing he had before,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Just some inflammation in the elbow. We’ve just got to calm it down and knock it out.”

Alvarado has a 1.38 ERA in 26 innings this season. He has struck out 39 and walked nine. His sinker has averaged 99 mph this season. In four appearances since he started to experience discomfort again in the elbow, it has averaged 98.5 mph.

“When I’m ready to pitch, I’m not feeling anything,” Alvarado said. “It’s weird because my velo is normal. Everything is consistent. But yesterday, it was a lot of swelling. It was bigger. I don’t want to push my arm like that.”

Alvarado said he does not think he will need to spend significant time on the IL, even though this is his second experience with the same injury.

“Today it’s better. We’ll continue treatment and that’s it,” Alvarado said.

He is eligible to be activated as early as July 22.

Bellatti was optioned to Triple-A on May 24. He had a 1.20 ERA with the IronPigs.