Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed on Thursday that the team will implement a six-man rotation starting this weekend as Aaron Nola returns from the injured list. Nola is set to start Sunday’s series finale in Washington after recovering from a right ankle sprain.
Rotation Lineup and Pitching Workload
The planned rotation features left-hander Ranger Suárez pitching Monday against the Seattle Mariners, along with ace Zack Wheeler, lefties Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, and right-hander Taijuan Walker. Thomson emphasized the rotation’s temporary nature but has not set a specific timeline for how long it will last.
Once for sure and then we’ve got some other ideas how to attack this thing as we move forward,
Thomson said.
Philadelphia’s starting pitchers have logged the most innings pitched in the majors this season, with a combined total of 687 1/3 innings. Cristopher Sánchez has pitched 150 2/3 innings, and Zack Wheeler has contributed 144 2/3 innings so far.
Reasons for the Expanded Rotation and Challenges Ahead
Thomson explained that the additional rest will help ease the heavy workload the starters have endured throughout the season. However, using a six-man rotation will require adjusting the bullpen, which may be thinner as a result.
Just getting some of these guys some extra rest cause we’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,
Thomson commented before the start of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals.
The one downside to it is you’ve got to take somebody out of your bullpen, so you’re a little short there but we’ll just have to figure it out.
Aaron Nola’s Performance and Next Steps
Prior to this return, Aaron Nola has been sidelined since May 14 due to his ankle injury. He impressed in three rehab starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a 2.19 ERA and striking out 17 batters over 12 1/3 innings. His reintegration into the rotation comes as the Phillies maintain their lead in the National League East, aiming to sustain their strong pitching depth in crunch time.