With Jose Alvarado back in the bullpen for the regular season and Jhoan Duran stepping into a full-time closer role, the Phillies have added real firepower to a unit that had been a sore spot all season. That depth has already helped shift the bullpen from a weakness into a potential strength as the playoff push accelerates.
Before the trade deadline, Philadelphia’s bullpen carried a 4.48 ERA. By August, the relief corps had shaved that to 3.23, among the league’s best over that span, ranking fifth in MLB for the month. The extra depth gives Rob Thomson room to be more aggressive with his top relievers, including deploying them on consecutive days or four out of five, depending on workload and the number of pitches thrown in the hours after a prior appearance.
“I’m not afraid to do it now,” Thomson said, emphasizing that workload and rest will guide his decisions as the Phillies chase a top-two seed in the NL and a possible first-round bye.
Duran opened his Phillies tenure with six straight saves, then blew his first one in the opener against the Nationals. He did convert the save on Saturday, though he did allow two hits in the ninth inning. The club now envisions him and the late-inning crew as a key asset during a 15-game stretch in September with no days off, five of which come against potential playoff foes in the Brewers and Dodgers.
Thomson also believes the new depth helps him push the rest of his high-leverage relievers during the stretch run. “He hasn’t done it this year, but he’s gone four of five like three, four times when he was in Minnesota,” Thomson said of Duran, noting that it depends on how many pitches the reliever threw in the first two days after a short break. “I think it all comes back to how many pitches he’s thrown the first two days.”
David Robertson, signed by Philadelphia midseason, has also settled in nicely. He made his first Phillies appearance on Aug. 11 against the Reds and has been effective, allowing just one run—via a Eugenio Suárez homer—in five appearances, with 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings. He’s even pitched back-to-back games on two occasions. The 40-year-old veteran arrived with a fresh arm, and Thomson and the team are hopeful that the extra rest can prolong his effectiveness down the stretch.
Robertson’s recent track record underscores the resilience the Phillies are hoping to harness. In 2022, after a strong run with the Mets (2.05 ERA, 1.00 WHIP in 40 appearances), his results fell off after a trade to the Marlins (5.06 ERA, 1.594 WHIP in 22 appearances). He then posted a 3.00 ERA in 68 appearances with the Rangers in 2024. Thomson acknowledged the wear and tear that can accompany a long season, especially for a pitcher his age, but he also highlighted Robertson’s experience as a valuable asset when weapons around him are fresh.
The combination of Alvarado’s return, Duran’s closer duties, and Robertson’s midseason addition gives the Phillies a flexible bullpen blueprint for a demanding September. If the back end stays crisp and the roster can absorb workload without a drop in effectiveness, Philadelphia could gain the confidence needed to secure a top seed and a smoother path through October.
What this means going forward: the Phillies are banking on depth and fresh arms to carry them through a grueling stretch, leveraging late-game leverage to stay in the race for postseason positioning. The plan hinges on careful workload management and continued production from the back end to turn what once looked like a bullpen weakness into a genuine strength.
Summary: The Phillies have fortified their bullpen with Alvarado back in regular-season action, Jhoan Duran as closer, and the addition of David Robertson, delivering improved August numbers and a flexible, high-leverage relief corps. If the workload can be balanced effectively, Philadelphia could press for a top-two NL seed and a first-round bye, turning depth into a real playoff asset.
Additional notes: The upcoming schedule features a 15-game run with no off days in September, including key games against potential contenders, which will test the bullpen’s resilience and Thomson’s aggressive strategy. If Duran and Robertson stay sharp and aligned with the rest of the relief group, the Phillies’ late-inning prowess could make a meaningful difference in their postseason aspirations.