The Philadelphia Phillies are approximately one week away from deciding on activating Aaron Nola from the injured list, where he’s been sidelined due to a right ankle sprain sustained during warmups in Cleveland on May 9. As the team prepares for his potential return, the focus is on how to reintegrate him effectively into the pitching rotation.
General Manager Outlines Plan for a Traditional Five-Man Rotation
Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly indicates the team plans to maintain a traditional five-man rotation once Nola returns. Speaking in an interview on 94 WIP, Mattingly emphasized the team’s flexibility while expressing a preference for giving starters more rest.
“I think we’ll look at all options,”
Mattingly said.
“But when Nola gets back, we want to slide to a five-man rotation. At some point this year, you never rule anything out. … We’d like to give guys an extra day’s rest and slide a sixth guy in there to keep our starters fresh.”
—Preston Mattingly, Phillies General Manager
Nola’s Struggles and Impact on the Phillies’ Pitching Staff
Aaron Nola’s current season has been a departure from his usual consistency, as this marks his first stint on the injured list since 2017. He entered the injury period amid a career-low performance, carrying a 6.16 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 49.2 innings pitched. He has also surrendered 11 home runs, a concerning figure compared to his past seasons.
The veteran starter managed only three quality starts out of nine outings this year, a stark contrast to the 20 quality starts he recorded in 33 starts last season. This downturn has left the Phillies searching for ways to stabilize their rotation as they await his recovery.
Rotation Adjustments and Emerging Role of Taijuan Walker
With Nola sidelined, Taijuan Walker has seized the opportunity to reestablish himself in the starting rotation. Walker began the season as a starter due to Ranger Suárez’s back injury, shifted briefly to a long-relief role when Suárez returned, and now holds an impressive 2.97 ERA as a starter. However, his relatively low inning count suggests he might return to the bullpen to help preserve pitching depth.
“As you see across the industry, starting pitching is something that’s a rarity,”
Mattingly remarked.
“We feel as an organization that we have multiple quality guys, whether it’s (Walker) as the sixth guy, Andrew Painter, Mick Abel who we saw (last Sunday). … We’ll use that to keep our team fresh, keep our starters healthy.”
—Preston Mattingly, Phillies General Manager
Depth and Prospects Provide Flexibility for Midseason Moves
The Phillies’ growing cadre of pitching talent offers stability and the potential to keep starters rested and healthy as the season progresses. This depth could prove critical approaching the July trade deadline, where Philadelphia may seek to exchange minor league starters for bullpen reinforcements if necessary. While Andrew Painter is considered untouchable, other promising arms like Mick Abel might be available for trades to strengthen the bullpen.