Two weeks prior to the conclusion of his 80-game suspension, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher José Alvarado publicly addressed his performance-enhancing drug usage in a statement released to reporters. In this statement, Alvarado admitted to having 'made a mistake' and extended his 'deepest apologies' to the Philadelphia organization, its fans, and the city itself.

On May 18, Major League Baseball announced Alvarado's suspension without pay due to a violation of the league's policy concerning performance-enhancing drugs. The left-hander tested positive for exogenous testosterone, which led to the penalty. According to league regulations, players suspended for PED usage during the regular season are ineligible to participate in the postseason if their team qualifies. Tuesday marked Alvarado's return to the Phillies organization, although he is not yet eligible to participate in games. He is authorized to begin a rehab assignment, allowing him to prepare for activation on August 19.

Prior to his suspension, Alvarado was enjoying a successful season, boasting a 2.70 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and seven saves across 20 appearances. Following his absence, the Phillies adopted a closer-by-committee strategy for late-game situations. Early struggles from Jordan Romano in June prompted Matt Strahm to take over closing duties, leading to a situation where eight players recorded at least one save in the initial four months of the season. The recent acquisition of Jhoan Durán in a trade with the Minnesota Twins on July 30 is expected to stabilize the Phillies' bullpen. Durán is slated to handle ninth-inning responsibilities, allowing manager Rob Thomson to strategically utilize his relievers as the season progresses. As the Phillies aim to establish some separation in the NL East division race against the New York Mets, Alvarado's return will enhance the bullpen with a high-impact arm. As of Tuesday, the Phillies hold a 1.5-game lead over the Mets in the division, with seven remaining head-to-head matchups, commencing with a three-game series at Citi Field from August 25-27.