Since Aaron Nola made his major-league debut on July 21, 2015, no one has taken the ball more for one team than Nola has for the Phillies.
The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft out of LSU, Nola has started 285 regular-season games and 10 postseason games in the last decade. He has never pitched out of the bullpen.
Those two facts together explain why Nola and not Ranger Suarez will take the ball for the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers two games to none. Despite his struggles this season – Nola had a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts – manager Rob Thomson trusts Nola and his long resume.
Thomson wanted to use Nola but didn’t want to feature him in relief for the first time in an elimination game. So, it will Nola first as the starter with Suarez available out of the bullpen.
“The trust factor – I have trust in both of them, don’t get me wrong,” Thomson told reporters on Oct. 7. “But Nola has pitched in some really big games for us in the last couple of years.”
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Thomson said he “would be shocked” if Suarez did not pitch in Game 3. The left-hander has not pitched in the series. He was far more effective than Nola in the regular season, compiling a 3.20 ERA in 157 â…“ innings. But he has also been effective as a reliever in his career.
Suarez made 27 relief appearances in 2021. He had a 1.12 ERA in 40 â…“ innings and recorded four saves. Suarez also made the save in the 2022 NL Championship Series win over the San Diego Padres that clinched the pennant. He has a 1.43 ERA in 10 career postseason appearances.
A right ankle sprain and a stress fracture in one of his right ribs sidelined Nola from June 19 to Aug. 17.
He had his best start of the season in his final outing of the regular season. Nola pitched eight, two-hit, one-run innings in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins at Citizens Bank Park on Sept. 26.
“Nola’s last couple of starts – his last start was phenomenal, that’s the Nola we’ve seen,” Thomson said. “So, I’m banking that we’re going to get that.”
For a second straight game, Harrison Bader is not in the Phillies’ starting lineup. Bader is dealing with tightness near his groin and hamstring.
First pitch is at 9:08 p.m. on TBS.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA) will oppose Nola (5-10, 6.01 ERA) for the Dodgers.
Phillies batting order
Trea Turner, SS
Kyle Schwarber, DH
Bryce Harper, 1B
Alec Bohm, 3B
Brandon Marsh, CF
J.T. Realmuto, C
Max Kepler, LF
Nick Castellanos, RF
Bryson Stott, 2B
Dodgers batting order
Shohei Ohtani, DH
Mookie Betts, SS
Teoscar Hernandez, RF
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Will Smith, C
Kike Hernandez, LF
Max Muncy, 3B
Andy Pages, CF
Tommy Edman 2B