With Aaron Nola nearing a return from the injured list, the Philadelphia Phillies are being forced to wait a little longer. The 32-year-old experienced a minor setback this week, delaying his comeback once again.
Nola last pitched on May 14, a rough outing where he gave up nine earned runs. It was easily his worst appearance of the season. Now sitting with a 1–7 record and an inflated ERA, the veteran right-hander is eager to return to form and help steady the Phillies’ rotation.
Rob Thomson Addresses Aaron Nola’s Soreness
Nola had been scheduled to throw live batting practice on June 5. However, Phillies manager Rob Thomson shared that the team has pressed pause on that plan due to some soreness in Nola’s right side.
Thomson called the issue “very mild” and said the team would wait a few more days before revisiting his throwing schedule.
Aaron Nola’s absence is going to be a bit longer. He felt some soreness in his right side. “Very mild,” Rob Thomson said. He will not throw his live BP on Thursday. They’ll wait a few days.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 4, 2025
When Nola was first placed on the 15-day injured list back on May 16, the Phillies didn’t expect his recovery to stretch much beyond that window. Now 20 days later, the team is left wondering just how much longer it’ll be before he’s back on the mound.
Phillies Rotation Needs Help
It’s not that Nola was dominating hitters before the injury, but his veteran presence is something the Phillies miss. The team has lost five of its last six games, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Philadelphia enters June 5 with a 37–24 record, still one of the best in the National League. But that mark isn’t enough to lead the NL East. The New York Mets, at 39–23, have been one step ahead and currently hold the top spot in the division.
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The Nationals are already 9.5 games back, so the NL East is shaping up to be a two-team race between the Phillies and Mets. Philadelphia would be leading either the AL or NL West based on winning percentage alone, but the tight division means every game counts.
Nola’s Up-and-Down Season So Far
Nola has thrown the fourth-most innings on the team this season. Zack Wheeler remains the clear ace, while Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo have stepped up behind him. Both Luzardo and Sánchez are off to strong starts, with identical 5–1 records.
Nola, meanwhile, has struggled with consistency. He has only one win on the year and has thrown just one shutout. His best two outings came in back-to-back starts earlier this spring. On April 27, he allowed just three hits and one earned run over seven innings against the Chicago Cubs.
He didn’t earn a decision that day, but followed it up with six scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 3. That outing gave him his only win of the season so far.
Phillies Looking Ahead
After a day off on Monday, June 2, the Phillies begin a stretch of 10 games in 10 days, with their next off day not until Thursday, June 12. That stretch could test the pitching staff, especially if Nola isn’t back soon.
While Thomson and the training staff remain cautious, the Phillies need all the help they can get if they want to keep pace with the Mets. The hope is that Nola’s latest setback is minor, and that he’ll return sometime in mid-June.
For now, the Phillies will rely on their rotation depth and hope that the offense can carry them through. But if they want to stay in the race—and eventually make a push for October—Aaron Nola will need to be a part of that picture.