Phillies considering using Nola every 5th day during stretch run
The Philadelphia Phillies are contemplating using ace Aaron Nola as much as possible during the last five-plus weeks of the regular season.
Philadelphia is considering a plan that would see the right-hander pitch every fifth day for the remainder of the campaign, regardless of whether the team has an off day between his starts, according to Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"It's something we've discussed over the course of the last 10 days," manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday. "It's something that we're considering. I don't want to make any announcements.
"But, starting Aaron every fifth day would also put him in line to start the last game of the season - or give us a chance to have us start him the last game of the season."
If the Phillies choose to carry out the plan, Nola would start seven more contests including the regular-season finale Sept. 29 against the Miami Marlins.
Prior to Nola's start against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, the former All-Star was 27-8 with a 2.60 ERA on five days' rest over the course of his career but just 23-20 with a 4.49 mark after four days off, according to Salisbury.
The 26-year-old has turned it up over the last two months after a sluggish start to the season. He's seen his ERA drop from 4.89 to 3.56 since June 15, giving up only 17 earned runs while registering 82 strikeouts over a stellar 73 1/3 innings.
Philadelphia (65-60) enters Wednesday's action two games out of the National League's second wild-card spot.