As steady as it gets, Aaron Nola's resurgence rolls on against Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
QUEENS, N.Y. — With 10 games remaining and a likely postseason ahead, reliability matters more than ever.
For the last two months, the Phillies have been able to find it in Aaron Nola.
Each time he’s taken the hill lately, Philadelphia has given itself a good chance to win.
Like it did Thursday.
The 33-year-old faced the New York Mets for the 34th time across his 12th big league season. New York has certainly had multiple identities over that span, but Nola looked like he knew each Mets hitter like the back of his hand in the Phillies’ 3-0 victory at Citi Field.
In complete control, Nola worked fast and efficiently. He got ahead, fired first-pitch strikes at an outstanding clip and forced uncomfortable at-bats. Through four innings, he hadn’t allowed a hit and needed only 38 pitches.
You could tell he was in a groove.
But the Phillies, as they have for much of the season, opened the night struggling to provide run support for him.
They had a tough customer on the other side in Nolan McLean. The Phillies haven’t had any level of success against the second-year right-hander, who entered with a 0.47 ERA in three meetings against them.
With the way both pitchers were throwing, whoever scored first was going to grab some serious momentum.
In the fifth, the Phillies loaded the bases after a pair of two-out walks before Bryce Harper put them ahead. Already with two hits against McLean, Harper bounced one to the left side, where Francisco Lindor fielded it and chose the shorter throw to second instead of going across the diamond.
Except Trea Turner was flying into the bag.
Arguably, the extra length of Turner’s sliding mitt made the difference. He was initially called out, but the call was overturned and the Phillies had a 1-0 lead.
It wasn’t loud contact, but it was enough.
That’s all Nola needed.
After a nine-pitch, hitless fifth in which he continued to face the minimum, a scary moment unfolded in Queens.
With Alec Bohm on second, Justin Crawford bounced one to the right side. Mets first baseman Jared Young stayed near the bag and reached for the ball as McLean came over to cover. McLean’s knee struck Young in the head.
Young went face down and lost consciousness as medical personnel rushed onto the field. He was eventually placed on a stretcher and carted off, giving a thumbs-up as he left. The Mets later announced that Young had feeling in his extremities and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
It was difficult to resume after a scene like that.
When play did, Nola didn’t lose his rhythm.
Nick Morabito broke up the no-hit bid with one out in the sixth, putting two runners aboard after Nola had opened the inning with a walk. That brought Francisco Lindor to the plate with a chance to do damage against a club he has hurt plenty of times before.
Nola got him to put the ball on the ground.
Luis Arraez backhanded it, made a strong feed to second and Turner completed the double play with a throw to first.
Whatever energy remained inside Citi Field disappeared.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Nola, who finished seven scoreless innings Thursday and extended his streak to eight consecutive starts allowing two earned runs or fewer.
For 23 straight starts earlier this season, Nola carried an ERA north of five. That came after a 2025 season in which injuries contributed to a 6.01 ERA.
After his 31st start of this season, his ERA is down to 4.49.
And over his last seven starts, Nola owns a 1.66 ERA — fifth-best among 48 qualified starters in that span.
That turnaround could become increasingly important.
There’s a possibility the Phillies could be without Luzardo if they enter a postseason series. That would obviously be less than ideal, but in a three-game Wild Card Series, two victories are all it takes to advance.
Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez would likely be the first two options if the Phillies can line up their rotation after clinching. If they need a third game, the way Nola is throwing right now shouldn’t drain anyone’s confidence in their chances.
October is often about riding the hot hand.
Right now, Nola’s right hand qualifies.
The Phillies gave themselves more breathing room in the seventh without even recording a hit. Turner took two bases on an errant pickoff throw before Arraez lifted a sacrifice fly.
They manufactured another in the eighth. Bryson Stott doubled, Brandon Marsh dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Crawford followed with a sacrifice fly.
It was the first time all season the Phillies had three sacrifice hits in a game.
One blemish in the victory came in the eighth, when Jonathan Bowlan exited with right groin tightness. The reliever has struggled lately, and the Phillies said an update will come later.
Philadelphia’s last two wins haven’t exactly been pretty, but they have been built around what tends to travel this time of year: starting pitching.
Wheeler gave them one. Nola followed with another. Both shutouts.
The Phillies’ magic number is now five, putting them in position to potentially clinch a fifth straight postseason berth before leaving Queens.
