BALTIMORE -- A few hours before the Phillies’ bullpen threw three scoreless innings in Saturday night’s 5-0 victory over the Orioles, seven relievers and bullpen coach Cesár Ramos formed a semi-circle in left field in front of Phillies left-hander José Alvarado.
Alvarado wanted to talk.
It felt like the right time because it hasn’t been a good run lately for the Phillies’ bullpen. It blew saves in three of the previous four games, including Friday’s 6-4 loss at Camden Yards. It has a 5.50 ERA since June 9. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly has few relievers he can trust before he gets to closer Jhoan Duran, which is a major concern for a team hoping to win a World Series.
It’s why the Phillies are searching for bullpen help before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. Name a late-inning reliever from a team that is selling and the Phillies could use him.
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“We need to believe,” Alvarado said before the game. “We need to believe how good we are. I know everybody wants to do their best, but control what you control. … I know everybody is thinking about this situation. For us, it was a refresh for the mind, it was a refresh for everybody. It’s like, ‘Hey, last night is over. Today is a new day. Let’s go.’
“It was a good talk.”
Duran said a few words. So did left-hander Tim Mayza and Ramos.
“They’ve been around a while,” Orion Kerkering said. “They’ve seen the [s---]. … It was needed for some people maybe. I’m not sure. But I think it's just kind of just reminding us, who we are as a team and who we are as players, and not letting the moment get too big, not letting the moment get too small. You know how it is. The season is long. You can't let bad nights or bad consistent outings swallow you up. You’ve got to be consistent and just fight through the bad.”
Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez tossed six scoreless innings on Saturday, handing the bullpen a one-run lead. Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan allowed one hit and struck out three in a scoreless seventh inning. Alvarado pitched a scoreless eighth. Duran pitched a clean ninth.
No matter how the bullpen pitched on Saturday, reinforcements are expected before Monday’s Deadline.
“I’m not thinking about that,” Alvarado said. “I’m thinking, ‘Am I good today? How can I help my teammates?' The trades? I can’t control that. Control what you can control.”