Phillies Place Aaron Nola on 15-Day Injured List Amid Performance Struggles

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right ankle sprain that occurred prior to his May 9 start. Phillies manager Rob Thomson explained that although both Nola and the team initially thought he could pitch through the injury, it persisted and was impacting his performance, leading to the decision to shut him down to prevent further injury. Nola, who has been a durable starter with over 1,200 innings pitched since 2017, struggled this season with a 6.16 ERA and a 1-7 record, including a career-worst outing where he allowed nine earned runs on 12 hits in just 3.2 innings. Despite these struggles and his injury, Thomson remains confident that Nola will regain his form, emphasizing trust in his ability to work through the difficulties. Meanwhile, top prospect Mick Abel is expected to make his major league debut as a spot starter, and Taijuan Walker will fill Nola's spot in the rotation. The Phillies continue to contend in the National League East, but Nola's current state is a notable concern for the team moving forward.