Aaron Nola’s Injury Raises Concerns for Phillies’ Strong Season
The Philadelphia Phillies’ impressive season has hit a potential snag, as starting pitcher Aaron Nola continues to deal with a nagging right ankle sprain. Nola, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 16, recently reported soreness in the ankle and was unable to complete a scheduled bullpen session, according to ESPN.
Nola suffered the injury while doing agility drills in Tampa and has since noted that it’s been affecting his mechanics, forcing him to compensate physically in other areas. “Obviously, I never want to go on the IL,” Nola said. “As a competitor, I’m here to pitch. I’ve pitched through stuff before and little things haven’t affected me. I thought this was going to subside by now, but it hasn’t really. It’s frustrating.”
Before landing on the IL, Nola struggled on the mound, including a rough outing against the St. Louis Cardinals where he gave up a career-high 12 hits, nine runs, and three home runs. Currently, he holds a 1-7 record with a 6.16 ERA across nine starts this season—well below his career average of a 3.78 ERA over 11 years with Philadelphia.
To help fill the gap left by Nola, the Phillies have called up right-hander Daniel Robert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Robert was recently acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers on April 30.
The team is also monitoring infielder Edmundo Sosa, who missed the May 24 game against the Oakland Athletics due to discomfort in his left wrist.
Despite these setbacks, the Phillies remain a competitive force in the NL East. However, Nola’s lingering injury adds uncertainty to their outlook, and his return to form will be crucial if the team hopes to maintain its momentum throughout the season.
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