CHICAGO (AP) — During his season-opening slide, Aaron Nola focused on his work. Everything that made the right-hander one of the most dependable pitchers in the National League.
Nola — and the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies — felt it would turn around eventually.
It sure looked as if he was on the right track Sunday night, when he pitched seven crisp innings to help Philadelphia to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
“He was back to his old self,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said. “So he’s going to be good for us. I’m not worried about him at all.”
Nola allowed one run and three hits in his longest outing of the season. He struck out six and walked one while throwing 73 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
He received a no-decision — the Phillies pushed across two runs in the 10th for the win — but it was an encouraging turnaround after he dropped his first five starts of the year. He lowered his ERA from 6.43 to 5.40, and his WHIP dropped from 1.61 to 1.40.
“Everything felt good tonight,” Nola said. “Fastball felt good. Cutter felt really good. Happy to go deep in the game and give the guys a good chance to win.”
The 31-year-old Nola was 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA through six starts in 2024. He finished 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA, helping the Phillies win the NL East.
Nola, who agreed to a $172 million, seven-year contract with Philadelphia in February 2024, has stayed with his usual routine throughout his tough start to this year.
“Just got to keep working,” he said. “Have good work weeks. Have good bullpens, and just stay focused as much as I can and go out and compete.”
Going into the start at Chicago, Nola was averaging 91.1 mph on his four-seam fastball — down from 92.5 in 2024 and 92.7 in 2023 — but manager Rob Thomson said Nola has pitched in some tough weather conditions this year.
“Everybody talks about his velocity,” Thomson said before the game. “I don’t concern myself really with his velocity, because he can pitch without being 94 if he’s got his command. That’s a thing that I look at. … When he doesn’t have his command, his Nola-like command, that’s when he gets hurt.”
After issuing 11 walks in his first 28 innings, Nola had no problems with his command against the Cubs.
A return to form for Nola could provide a big lift for a Phillies team that has been hampered by a couple of injuries, including in the rotation.
Ranger Suárez, who opened the season on the injured list with lower back stiffness, pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two.
Thomson said he wasn’t sure if Suárez would need another rehab start.
“We’ll meet him in Philadelphia either tomorrow or Tuesday,” Thomson said.
While Suárez is nearing a return, Thomson said outfielder Brandon Marsh left Lehigh Valley’s game because of a cramp in his right hamstring. The 27-year-old Marsh was placed on the 10-day IL last weekend because of a strained right hamstring.
Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who left Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the New York Mets because of left forearm tightness, threw a bullpen before the series finale against the Cubs.
“I haven’t talked to him, but somebody said he felt great,” Thomson said. “We’ll see. Really tomorrow is the day where you figure out where he’s at.”
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