Phillies Hit Hard: Aaron Nola Lands on IL with Ankle Sprain – What It Means for the Team

The Phillies recently placed right-hander Aaron Nola on the 15-day injured list because of a sprained right ankle. Daniel Robert has been called up to fill his spot. Pittsburgh prospect Mick Abel is set to make his major league debut this Sunday but will be sent back to Triple-A after that. Taijuan Walker will take over Nola’s spot in the rotation.

Nola’s ankle injury might explain his struggles in recent games. He allowed four earned runs in five innings against Cleveland, and then nine earned runs in just 3.2 innings against the Cardinals. Before this, he had a rough start to the season with a 4.61 ERA in his first seven outings. However, he was showing signs of improvement, with strong performances against the Cubs and Diamondbacks.

Currently, Nola’s ERA sits at 6.16. Despite decent strikeout and walk rates, he’s given up 11 home runs this year. Recent stats suggest that his home run rate could normalize, but Nola has always had a tendency to give up long balls. The team hasn’t indicated how long he’ll be sidelined, but it looks like he may miss several starts.

Walker, meanwhile, returns to the rotation after starting strong with a 2.54 ERA in his first six games. After being moved to the bullpen when Ranger Suárez returned from injury, Walker had mixed results in relief. He’ll take the mound next week, while Abel makes his debut in the meantime.

Abel was drafted in the first round but has faced challenges with control. He has struck out almost 27% of batters in the minors but has also walked over 13%. This year, he’s improved, posting a 2.53 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A.

In another setback, Moisés Chace will undergo Tommy John surgery. Chace, acquired from the Orioles, was seen as a top pitching prospect and could have progressed to Triple-A or the majors soon. Unfortunately, injuries might delay his advancement until summer 2026.

The Phillies are navigating tough waters with these injuries, but they also have young talent ready to step up. As Nola recovers, it will be interesting to observe how this impacts the team’s performance and strategy moving forward.



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