Andrew Alvarez pulled in fifth against Rockies

The left-hander struck out six batters in the ballgame and didn’t allow an extra-base hit. He exited with a 1-0 lead and in line for a victory, but the Nationals’ bullpen was unable to hang on for him. Alvarez generated seven swings and misses on 97 offerings, posting a CSW of 27 percent. He’ll look to replicate this fine effort as he brings a solid 3.47 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and an 86/41 K/BB ratio (90 2/3 innings) into a tough matchup against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 27-year-old southpaw struck out five batters on the evening while issuing three walks. The lone tally against him came on a solo blast off the bat of Corey Seager in the third inning that went just over the outstretched glove of leaping outfielder Andrew Pinckney. Alvarez got eight whiffs on 75 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of 28 percent. He now boasts a respectable 3.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 74/36 K/BB ratio over 80 innings on the season. He’ll square off against the Rockies his next time out at home on Tuesday.

It was a shame Alvarez couldn’t finish off the sixth inning in this game. He breezed through the middle frames retiring 10 consecutive batters before there were two outs in that sixth. Then, Francisco Lindor got him for a game-tying, solo home run on a hanging slider that may as well have been on a tee. Even more frustrating, Alvarez struck out Bo Bichette to follow, but it came on a pitch in the dirt that Keibert Ruiz couldn’t keep close enough and Bichette scampered to first. Alvarez was pulled there and to make matters worse, Daylen Lile then misplayed a blooper in left field and a two-out single by Carson Benge put Alvarez on the hook for the loss. An absolutely brutal chain of events that shouldn’t overshadow a solid start from the young lefty. His next start is scheduled to come on the road against the Rangers.

Alvarez gave up three hits, walked one and struck out two. The 27-year-old left-handed allowed only one run, but it wasn’t a very impressive performance overall as he struck out only two of 20 batters faced. Alvarez has a 3.76 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Mets at home next weekend.

This is the first time all season that Alvarez has completed six innings, and it came in one of his toughest matchups. The left-hander walked three and struck out five while throwing 59 percent of his pitches for strikes and posting a 12 percent swinging strike rate. The command remains an issue for Alvarez, but he should get a long look in the rotation with Foster Griffin now in Cleveland.

Alvarez was brought back to take the ball for Monday’s series opener against the Phillis. The 27-year-old lefty has posted a pedestrian 4.06 ERA across 57 2/3 innings of work this season.

Alvarez was optioned to the minor leagues a week ago, but trades have enabled him to be called back up. The 27-year-old has some intriguing swing-and-miss upside, but he also holds a 4.06 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 57 2/3 innings this season for the Nationals and can’t be trusted in fantasy leagues right.

Alvarez earns a ticket back to the minors after allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings during a bulk relief appearance against the Blue Jays on Monday. He struck out three and also issued three walks. He holds a pedestrian 4.06 ERA across across 57 2/3 innings of work this season.

Alvarez was given a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but he coughed that up in the third before being lifted from a tie game in the fifth. He’s given up 11 earned runs in 12 innings over his last three outings, taking his ERA from 3.05 to 4.22. He’ll probably pitch again Sunday against the D-backs, but it could be as a bulk guy.

Alvarez also hit a batter and the Astros went 3-for-3 stealing bases against him, which helps explain how he gave up five runs despite allowing just four singles and no extra-base hits. Alvarez has walked 21 in 47 innings in the majors this year. He’s managed a 3.64 ERA anyway, but he can’t keep putting guys on base like this. Since he won’t be needed to make another start before the break, the Nationals might send him down to the minors to keep him sharp.