The Philadelphia Phillies are enjoying a strong season, but their momentum could be affected due to an injury to one of their top players. Starting pitcher Aaron Nola is dealing with discomfort from a sprained right ankle and skipped a scheduled bullpen session because of the ongoing soreness, according to ESPN.
Nola was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 16 due to the ankle issue. His performance this season has been below expectations. In his final outing before being sidelined—against the St. Louis Cardinals—he gave up 12 hits, nine runs, and three home runs, all of which were career highs.
So far this season, Nola holds a 1-7 record with a 6.16 ERA across nine starts. Over his 11-year career with the Phillies, he has compiled a 105-86 record with a 3.78 ERA.
He sustained the ankle injury during agility drills in the outfield in Tampa. Nola explained that the pain was severe enough that he began overcompensating with other parts of his body.
“I definitely don’t want to go on the injured list,” Nola said. “As a competitor, I want to be out there pitching. I’ve pushed through injuries before and minor issues haven’t stopped me. I hoped this would have improved by now, but it hasn’t. It’s really frustrating.”
To cover for Nola’s injury, the Phillies called up right-handed pitcher Daniel Robert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Robert was obtained from the Texas Rangers in a trade on April 30.
Phillies infielder Edmundo Sosa recently sat out the game against the Athletics on May 24 because of discomfort in his left wrist.
The Phillies still appear to have a strong roster to compete this season, and if Nola can get back to his best, they should remain contenders at the top of the NL East. For now, though, they will have to face challenges without one of their key players.
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