PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies are shorthanded in the bullpen again.

They placed left-hander José Alvarado on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with an impingement in his left shoulder (retroactive to Aug. 8). Alvarado said he is hopeful he can rejoin the team when he is first eligible to be activated on Aug. 18, but it depends on the results of Wednesday’s MRI exam.

“It's like death,” Alvarado said. “You never know when it's going to happen. One day you are here, one day you are not. I was feeling fine one day to the next. Then, I started feeling weak. But I'm confident I will come back strong.”

Alvarado said he first started to feel fatigue in his shoulder three days ago. He felt fine throwing from 45 feet, but he said he lost strength once he threw from 90 feet.

“When I want to throw the ball so hard, I can't do that because I am not feeling my power,” he said.

Alvarado has had shoulder issues before, including last season with the Rays when he spent weeks on the IL because of it.

“The pain in my arm is like the same thing I felt last year,” he said. “Last year, I didn't say anything to anybody. This year, the same thing as last year and I don't want to lose the rest of the year.

“Maybe I'm tired and I need a little rest.”

Alvarado’s absence puts the Phillies in a difficult spot because they might be without a left-hander in the bullpen for the foreseeable future. Left-hander Matt Moore is the best candidate to start on Saturday against the Reds, according to Phillies manager Joe Girardi, although he could still make an appearance in the bullpen this week. The Phillies need a fifth starter because they placed right-hander Chase Anderson on the IL last week with tendinitis in his right triceps and there are no other options.

Left-hander Cole Hamels signed as a free agent last week with the Dodgers, although he will not be ready for a few weeks.

The Phillies previously transitioned left-hander Ranger Suárez from closer to starter following the team’s acquisition of closer Ian Kennedy on July 30.

“There are certain situations where you like having a couple different lefties,” Girardi said. “But with acquiring Kennedy, we thought we could do it.”

Now that Alvarado is out, the Phillies go from two lefties in the 'pen to zero if Moore moves back into the rotation.

More Bohm at first? Likely
Alec Bohm took extra fielding practice at first base before Wednesday’s game. He could play more first base while Rhys Hoskins is sidelined until at least early next week because of a strained left groin.

“He’s had enough [reps] that we feel we can handle it,” Girardi said.