Elvis

Alvarado

Alvarado was mostly taking a backseat to Hogan Harris in recent weeks, but this makes three saves in five days for him. The A’s will probably continue to alternate both guys based on matchups, but Alvarado has upped his stock with eight straight scoreless appearances.

Alvarado got the call to close out the game on Tuesday with a two-run lead over the Twins. He worked a clean inning, striking out one batter to secure the win and his fourth save of the season. The A’s have leaned on Alvarado more of late as he’s shared save chances with Hogan Harris, though Alvarado has two of the last three.

After the A’s took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, Hogan Harris faced the heart of the Astros order before handing it over to Alvarado in the ninth. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out two in a clean inning of work to secure his third save of the season. Still, Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.

After coming into a 1-0 game, Alvarado gave up homers to Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto in the ninth. It’s his first blown save and third loss. The other biggest threat for saves in the A’s pen, Hogan Harris, worked a scoreless seventh tonight, so he’s looking a little better at the moment. Still, no A’s reliever seems particularly trustworthy in shallow leagues.

After the Angels tied the game with a three-run home run in the eighth, Alvarado was called on with one on and two out in the eighth inning and got a strikeout to end the inning. He got a fly out to start the ninth inning, but then a single and a two-run home run by Zach Neto put the Angels up for good. These are just the second and third earned runs Alvarado has allowed in 10 innings in June. He remains the favorite for saves with the Athletics.

Alvarado struck out Kyle Karros and Brett Sullivan before getting Sterlin Thompson to ground out to end the game. He’s earned both of his saves in the eight days since the A’s recalled him from Triple-A. He should remain in the mix going forward, but Hogan Harris, who notched a save Friday, still seems like the best bet in the A’s pen for now.

Alvarado retired Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to become the eighth A’s reliever to earn a save this season. He’s pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts since being recalled from Las Vegas five days ago. Alvarado made the A’s out of spring training, only to be sent down with an 8.78 ERA after 10 appearances. Consider him part of the saves mix now, but if we were going to roster an A’s reliever, Hogan Harris is still the one we’d choose.

Alvarado, 27, has been knocked around in 10 appearances with the Athletics this season, posting a cringe-inducing 8.38 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and a 9/7 K/BB ratio over 9 2/3 innings. He’ll function in a middle relief role for manager Mark Kotsay and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.

The bullpen shuffle continues in West Sacramento with Elvis leaving the building after being torched for four runs over two innings by the White Sox on Friday night. The 27-year-old served up a gargantuan 431-foot grand slam to White Sox rookie slugger Munetaka Murakai that left his bat like a rocket taking off.

Alvarado caught a break when David Hamilton was thrown out stealing after a leadoff single in the ninth. Hamilton was ruled out on the field, and though the replays suggested he got his hand in there, New York upheld the call. Alvarado then walked a batter and gave up an RBI double to Rob Refnsyder to blow the lead. Hogan Harris replaced him at that point and got the win after the A’s scored in the bottom of the ninth. The A’s don’t currently have a reliever worth rostering in mixed leagues.