Jose Alvarado News: Starting rehab assignment Thursday

Alverado (suspension) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Alvarado was handed an 80-game PED suspension in mid-May and is now closing in on his return. The reliever is eligible to be activated Aug. 19 and will make some appearances with Lehigh Valley to get back up to speed. However, the southpaw will not reclaim the closer role for the Phillies, who acquired Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline.