Aaron Nola is giving the Philadelphia Phillies something they desperately need heading into October: confidence in a veteran starter who looked far less certain earlier in the season.
Nola delivered another impressive performance against the New York Mets, strengthening the growing belief that he could become one of the Phillies’ most important postseason weapons. His latest outing continued a remarkable stretch in which the veteran right-hander has looked increasingly like the dependable ace Philadelphia expected when it signed him to a seven-year, $172 million contract.
Over his last 10 starts, Nola has averaged six innings per outing while posting a 2.10 ERA. That stretch has changed the conversation surrounding him considerably. Earlier in the season, questions surrounded his consistency and whether he still had enough left to handle the demands of a deep playoff run. Now, with October approaching, Nola is putting together the type of performances that can force those doubts into the background.
His recent success has not been completely flawless. Nola has continued to surrender home runs and has not produced the strikeout numbers normally associated with his best seasons. However, a closer look at those home runs provides important context: eight of the nine homers he has allowed during this 10-start stretch have been solo shots. More importantly, his command and pitch execution have noticeably improved.
Nola has been particularly effective at attacking the lower part of the strike zone. His fastball location has become more consistent, while his curveball has been used effectively below the zone to keep hitters uncomfortable. Since Aug. 19, his strike rate has increased by more than two percentage points, another indication that he is controlling at-bats better than he was earlier in the year.
The timing could hardly be better for Philadelphia. The Phillies are already dealing with uncertainty surrounding Jesús Luzardo, whose shoulder issue has removed another important piece from the rotation. With Luzardo unavailable, every quality start from the remaining starters carries greater significance, particularly because Philadelphia’s bullpen has not provided the level of certainty a contender would normally want entering the postseason.
That makes Nola’s resurgence especially important. Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez remain central figures in Philadelphia’s rotation, but Nola’s recent form gives the team another veteran capable of taking pressure off the bullpen. If he can continue working deep into games, the Phillies will have greater flexibility when they reach October and face a demanding postseason schedule.
Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs has also noticed the difference. Stubbs’ assessment is that Philadelphia is once again seeing the version of Nola that has been capable of dominating hitters throughout his career. The veteran pitcher’s recent consistency has restored some of the qualities that previously made him such a trusted member of the rotation.
For Nola himself, the turnaround appears to be rooted in simplicity rather than trying to reinvent his entire approach. He has emphasized taking each hitter individually, maintaining his routine, keeping his body healthy and making sure his bullpen sessions prepare him properly for each start. That routine has allowed him to focus less on being perfect and more on executing the pitches he knows he can throw.
That approach could become particularly valuable in October. The Phillies may need their starters to provide more innings than they would during a normal regular-season stretch, especially if the bullpen remains unsettled. A starter who can consistently reach the sixth or seventh inning can dramatically change how a playoff game is managed.
Nola’s recent form also carries a larger storyline because of how much his career has changed over the past two seasons. After a difficult 2025 campaign and an uneven beginning to 2026, there were legitimate questions about whether the veteran had moved beyond the level that once made him one of baseball’s most durable starters. At 33, he is no longer viewed as a young pitcher entering his prime.
Yet the recent numbers tell a different story.
From 2018 through 2024, Nola accumulated more innings than any other starting pitcher in baseball, establishing a reputation for durability and reliability. Now, with the Phillies approaching another postseason opportunity, the responsibility may once again be to give Philadelphia length, stability and quality innings when the games matter most.
The Phillies do not necessarily need Nola to become the pitcher he was several years ago. They need the version they have seen recently: controlled, efficient, durable and capable of neutralizing a dangerous lineup for multiple trips through the order.
His latest performance against the Mets is another reason for Philadelphia fans to reconsider their expectations. Nola’s season has not been perfect, and questions remain about his home-run rate and strikeout production. But his recent run suggests that writing him off before October would be premature.
With the postseason approaching and the rotation facing increased pressure, Nola has given the Phillies something almost as valuable as another victory renewed belief that he can still be trusted when the stakes become highest.
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