The Philadelphia Phillies are aiming for a strong second half to reclaim the top spot in their division, but their rotation took a major blow this week when an MRI revealed a setback for Aaron Nola.
According to The Athletic’s Charlotte Varnes, Nola has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage, which the veteran says causes pain when “breathing heavily or throwing.”
Nola had already been on the injured list with a sprained right ankle suffered during his May 14 start. Initially placed on the 15-day IL, he was eligible to return by late May. However, his recovery hit a snag, and now the rib injury will extend his time on the sidelines even further.
A new injury means Aaron Nola’s return to the Phillies’ rotation is on hold.
Nola, who made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 2015, has been a dependable presence in their rotation over the years, posting a career 3.78 ERA, 1.148 WHIP, and 111 ERA+. He held the distinction of starting six straight Opening Day games before being overtaken by Zack Wheeler.
However, 2025 has been a rough season for the 32-year-old. In nine starts, he’s gone 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA, 1.510 WHIP, and a career-low 68 ERA+. His final outing before the IL was particularly tough—he surrendered nine runs on 12 hits in just 3.2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, a game the Phillies lost 14-7.
Even with Nola struggling and now injured, Philadelphia’s rotation has been solid overall. The group leads MLB in strikeouts, quality starts, and fWAR, while ranking fifth in WPA. But in terms of ERA (10th), WHIP (15th), and opponent batting average (16th), they sit around the middle of the pack.
After a strong start to the season, the Phillies have hit a rough patch, dropping 10 of their last 13 games. Their record now stands at 39-29, and they’ve fallen behind the New York Mets in the NL East, trailing by 5.5 games heading into Friday’s action.