May 3, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Less than an hour before the first pitch, something wasn't right with Aaron Nola.
The durable pitcher, who has become a scientist when it comes to understanding his own body in the past 11 seasons with the Phillies, felt his neck stiffening up during a pre-game workout.
"It just kind of locked up on me on my right side," Nola said. "Luckily it was my right side, so I could look left."
It was concerning enough that the Phillies made a roster move before the game to activate Ranger Suarez a day early in case Nola couldn't go.
In doing so, they placed reliever Jose Ruiz on the 15-day I.L. with neck spasms retroactive to May 1.
(Did everyone just sleep wrong on Friday night?)
But Nola said he was good to go. The team still wanted to monitor him, just in case things got dicey early.
Instead, Nola diced up a very good Arizona lineup.
Aaron Nola was fantastic tonight and had his best start of the season!
6.0 IP | 4 H | 0 ER | 1 BB | 8 K | 109 Pitchespic.twitter.com/QvKIQUAB3p
Nola gutted through six innings, allowing just four hits and a walk (he did hit a batter too) and struck out eight. He didn't allow a run in what would be a 7-2 Phillies win over the D-backs.
"I think all of my pitches feel pretty good right now," Nola said. "I'm getting ahead of the hitters better than I was the first few starts and putting them away when I need to."
Not only that, Nola, stiff neck and all, had an uptick in velocity in the first inning. On the first batter of the game, Nola struck out Corbin Carroll looking on a fastball that clocked 94.4 MPH. It was the highest velocity he has had on any pitch this season.
He has now allowed just one run in his last two starts against two of the better run-producing lineups in baseball - the Chicago Cubs and the Diamondbacks.
In fact, the one run he allowed wouldn't have even been on base had there not been a misplay on a lazy fly ball to the outfield.
Go back three starts, and Nola was having a very solid outing against another good team - the New York Mets - having allowed just two runs through six innings. But manager Rob Thomson pushed the envelope by trying to have Nola pitch through the seventh inning because of as depleted bullpen, and after getting the first out, Nola gave up a single and a walk before being lifted for Ruiz, who promptly gave up a three-run bomb to Francisco Lindor, charging Nola with four earned runs in a game in which he pitched much better than his line would indicate.
A key factor in Nola's resurgence has been his increased use of the cutter. According to Statcast data, he utilized the cutter on 35% of his pitches during the game, a career-high usage rate. This adjustment has added a new dimension to his repertoire, allowing him to keep hitters guessing.
"I think it's such an effective pitch for him," said catcher J.T. Realmuto, who homered and doubled in the game and called mostly all of Nola's pitches. "His best outings, in my opinion, are when he's able to control (the cutter) and mix it in. It's never going to be his primary pitch, but when he's got good action going on, he's able to throw it just off the plate in to lefties and away to righties. I think it just opens up another avenue for him.
Here's an example of what Realmuto was talking about:
Aaron Nola, 91mph Sinker and 86mph Cutter, Overlay. pic.twitter.com/HoXUKyd60i
The Phillies hit for Nola and staked him to an early lead. Not only did Realmuto do damage, but Max Kepler homered for the third time in four games. The Phillies bombarded Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt for three runs in the second, three in i the third, and an unearned run in the fourth.
It allowed Nola to settle into less stressful innings than he's been used to so far this season, and pick up his first win of the season.
"It's good to get that off my back," Nola said.
Now, as long as he can keep away whatever locked up his neck, he should be just fine.
