Without Zack Wheeler in the rotation, Aaron Nola’s return could have been a big pick -up for the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. Nola, however, struggled again in what a confusing season has been for the former Cy Young Award -Competent.
Nola made his first start since May 14 and lasted only 2.1 innings against the Washington Nationals and received six points and seven hits while he only threw 53 throws. Returning a judge single disguise that landed on him on the 60-day wounded list, Nola was seen a 6-0 lead by the Phillies for a disastrous third inning when Washington knew the advantage and Nola pursued.
With Wheeler on the 15-day wounded list of a Right Extremity Blood clot and not a real timeline on his return, Nola could be a boost back in the Rotation for the Phillies when they entered a lead of five games about the New York Mets in the National League East on Sunday.
Now, however, it seems more that there can be more questions about Nola and when (and / or if) he will bounce back to form.
Finding a way to overcome Wheeler will be crucial for the Phillies. The 35-year-old Wheeler was in the NL CY Young Award discussion with a 10-5 mark and a 2.71 ERA. In 149.2, he has limited batters to a .197/.253/.349 slash line and leads the NL in Whip (0.94), Strikeouts (195), Strikeout (33.3%), XFIP (2.50), Xera (2.44) and Strikeout Rate (27.7%).
The Phillies helped those figures to have the second lowest era of their starters under 30 MLB teams at 3.42 on their way to Sunday’s campaign. Excellent figures, but can they stay so low with Wheeler from the rotation and Nola is struggling on his return?
Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez certainly threw well, which provides a basis for the Phillies that are making progress with Wheeler as a question mark and Nola a potential work in progress. However, if Wheeler is unable to return on time to influence the late season and Nola continues to struggle, it can be a worst scenario for the rotation of the Phillies when red October looms up in the city of Brotherly Love.
The health of Wheeler is definitely a priority for the Phillies, but an even greater short -term fix for Philadelphia is to find out what prevents Nola from being the dominant pitcher that he has been in the past. Until that time, the Phillies have two big question marks in the rotation that no team wants to have in the last weeks of the regular season.
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