Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced Wednesday that Aaron Nola, the injured right-hander, will skip his scheduled live batting practice on Thursday due to mild soreness in his right side.
Nola recently acknowledged that his recovery from a sprained right ankle is progressing slower than anticipated and said he’ll likely need a minor league rehab appearance before returning.
The veteran pitcher has struggled this season, posting a 1-7 record with a 6.16 ERA over nine starts. There’s currently no timetable for when he’ll resume throwing.
The Phillies placed Nola on the 15-day injured list on May 16, aiming to prevent further issues caused by compensating for the ankle injury. The 31-year-old gave up career highs in hits (12), runs (9), and home runs (3) during a 14-7 loss to the Cardinals on May 14.
Nola sustained the injury during pregame agility drills on May 8 at Steinbrenner Field while the Phillies were playing the Rays. This setback comes after he signed a seven-year, \$172 million contract before the 2024 season.
Over his 11-year career with Philadelphia, Nola has compiled a 105-86 record and a 3.78 ERA. He’s been one of baseball’s most reliable starters since debuting in 2015, only missing one start due to COVID protocols in 2021 before this recent injury.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game in Toronto, the Phillies recalled right-hander Mick Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and placed Zack Wheeler on the paternity list. Abel was set to start against the Blue Jays.