Aaron Nola is about to do something he’s never done in his big league career, and the timing couldn’t be more intense for the Phillies.
For the first time in 317 regular-season starts over 12 MLB seasons - all with Philadelphia - Nola will take the mound on fewer than four days’ rest. The Phillies announced less than four hours before Saturday’s scheduled first pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays that Nola would start on two days’ rest.
The move comes with the season hanging in the balance. Philadelphia’s third straight loss on Friday, paired with Arizona’s sixth straight win, left the Phillies and Diamondbacks separated by just one game with two games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The Phillies had been set to use a bullpen game against Tampa Bay, but the situation pushed them into a different plan.
That decision also reflects the state of the Phillies’ relief corps. Their bullpen has been hit hard this month, posting a 5.23 September ERA that ranks 27th in the majors, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels.
Nola’s own recent workload makes the ask even more notable. He threw 88 pitches over six innings Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing four runs. On the season, he has made 32 starts and logged 174.1 innings.
A former All-Star who has received Cy Young Award votes in four of his 12 seasons, Nola is expected to be a major piece of Philadelphia’s postseason pitching plans - if the Phillies can first lock up a playoff spot.
The Rays, already crowned American League East champions, beat the Phillies 2-0 on Friday while holding them to four hits. With October ahead and little left to chase in the standings, Tampa Bay still found a way to keep Philadelphia in check.
Arizona enters Saturday at 86-74 and is facing the San Diego Padres, who have already secured a National League wild-card berth. Because the Diamondbacks own the tiebreaker over the Phillies, a finish with identical records would send Arizona to the postseason.
The Phillies still control their fate. Their magic number is 2, and they can clinch Saturday. If they do, they’d surely welcome a strong outing from their longest-tenured player in a spot he’s never had to navigate before.
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Simpson also has quietly added value in the outfield, where his defensive work has improved as the year has gone on. He has not hit a home run this season, but that has hardly been the point for a player whose impact comes from putting pressure on defenses, turning singles into movement, and forcing opponents to account for a runner who can change an inning in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]