Aug 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola walks into the dugout before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. (Grace Del Pizzo/On Pattison)
PHOENIX – Historically speaking, Aaron Nola is often plagued by home runs and the "big inning."
In years previous, Nola would pitch for four or five innings before his control abandoned him. In 2025, that big inning has crept earlier and earlier. It came in the first inning in his Aug. 28 and Sept. 3 starts against the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers, respectively.
Well, Nola avoided both the home runs and the big inning Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His four earned runs were spread across three innings.
Unfortunately, the Phillies' offense couldn't match that total. The Phils put up two runs in the top of the first, and Alec Bohm added another with a solo home run, but the Diamondbacks' 4-3 victory evened up the three-game series.
When all was said and done, Nola threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. He walked two Diamondbacks and struck out four.
Nola picked up the loss, but Phillies manager Rob Thomson still liked what he saw.
Rob Thomson liked what he saw in Aaron Nola’s outing tonight.
“Today was really encouraging to me, just because of fastball command.”
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/sGXWCmJzzV
"Today was really encouraging to me, just because of fastball command," Thomson said after Saturday's game. "Velocity was up, and he held it for most of the game."
It's been a difficult year for Nola. When a right ankle sprain sent him to the IL on May 16, his ERA was 6.16. After his return on Aug. 17, it has inched its way up to 6.46.
After Nola pitches his final start next week, his 2025 ERA will easily be a career high. It'll top his 2016 ERA of 4.78 by more than a full run.
This obviously hasn't been the season Nola hoped for, but after dealing with that ankle sprain and an additional stress fracture in his rib, he's finally fully healthy for the stretch run.
"Body feels good. I'm 100%, finally," Nola said after the game. "Ankle and rib feel great, arm feels good, so overall, body feels really good."
Although Nola gave up those four runs Saturday, Thomson sees him getting better and better as he works his way back from that three-month absence.
"I'm not sure if there's some fatigue setting in, just because he hasn't had a full season. Sometimes that's good," Thomson said. "With the amount of starts he's had, he's still kind of building back. I don't know whether there's some fatigue setting in, but I liked where he was at today."
Nola liked where he was at, too. He said he "pounded the zone pretty good," and that his curveball felt sharp.
In 11 seasons as an MLB pitcher, Nola has never pitched out of the bullpen. Thomson doesn't seem inclined to change that when the postseason begins. Nola will likely be the Phillies' fourth starter, behind Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Jesús Luzardo.
Yes, Nola's 2025 hasn't gone according to plan. But he has one remaining start before the postseason, and he is working hard to accelerate his progress and turn it around.
"I'm going to keep working. Keep working hard and try to go have a good game in my last outing, and try to finish strong going into the playoffs," Nola said.
"I'll try to have a good work week this week and stay healthy."
