Aaron Nola ends 2018 on positive note with win for Philadelphia Phillies
By Dan Parzych
As bad as the last two months have been for the Philadelphia Phillies, it was great to see Aaron Nola earn one final win on Saturday.
Every Philadelphia Phillies fan is aware just how frustrating the last two months have been when considering the team went from being a serious contender in the National League, only to finish the regular season with a record below .500.
However, if the Phillies had to take away one positive factor from the final weekend of the regular season, it would be Aaron Nola ending the regular season on a hot note with his 17th win following a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
On Saturday, Nola lasted seven innings, and only allowed two hits while striking out eight batters, bringing his total to 224 strikeouts on the season to go along with his 17-6 record.
Related Story. 3 reasons Ryan Howard will always be a fan favorite. light
Heading into the 2018 season, Philadelphia’s expectations for Nola were high after seeing the progress made last year, but it’s safe to say nobody thought the All-Star would look as good as he did.
Winning the division or even earning a Wild Card spot would have been amazing for the Phillies when remembering the great position the team was in back at the beginning of August. But at least Nola along with a few other key players gives the team something to look forward to in 2019.
Not to mention, if Philadelphia finds a way to land a big-name free agent like Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, it will put Nola in a much better position for 2019 as well when it comes to receiving the necessary run support.
Finishing below .500 came as a surprise when looking at the position this team was in two months ago, but as bad as it sounds, the way the Phillies have looked since the beginning of August is kind of what most fans expected from the team.
At least with Nola coming through with his best season, Philadelphia has one thing to be proud of from the 2018 season.
Looking ahead to next season, chances are with an improved offense along with this the learning experience from 2018 will result in Nola elevating his game to a whole new level.
Next. NHL Power Rankings: Previewing Flyers Metropolitan position. dark
Clearly, Nola has made a strong name for himself as the top pitcher in the rotation, and the Phillies understand the importance of putting him in better position for 2019 to top his impressive numbers from 2018.