The Philadelphia Phillies are firmly in the discussion as a National League power entering Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. At 26-18, they are 1.5 behind the New York Mets for first place in the division and are embarking on a seven-game road trip that begins with Monday night’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies.
But before the Phillies board the plane, they ran into some big changes. One of the most notable will be their starting rotation, which has been adjusted before they spend a week on the road.
Phillies Call Up Mick Abel, Place Aaron Nola on IL Ahead of Road Trip
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the Phillies are placing Aaron Nola on the injured list with an ankle sprain. Prospect Mick Abel has been called up to make his major league debut against Paul Skenes and the Pirates on Sunday, while Taijuan Walker will rejoin the rotation during the series with the Rockies.
It will be a short stay for Abel, who will return to Triple-A after Sunday’s game. But it has long-term ramifications as the Phillies begin the road trip.
Abel is the Phillies’ No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and has gone 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA in eight starts this season. The 15th overall pick in the 2020 draft has also held opposing hitters to a .215 batting average and has 51 strikeouts and 19 walks in 46.1 innings.
Nola has struggled this season, falling to 1-7 after allowing nine runs in Wednesday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. In nine starts, he’s allowed a 6.16 ERA and 11 home runs as part of the second year of a seven-year, $172 million contract. His massive salary is probably why the Phillies opted to put him on the injured list, but it’s almost ironic considering who is replacing him.
Walker is one of the Phillies’ top redemption stories this season after posting a 3-7 record and 7.10 ERA last season. After using a weighted ball program to increase his velocity, his strong Spring Training performance translated to the regular season, posting a 1-3 record and a 2.62 ERA in 34.1 innings.
The Phillies' rotation has been one of their strengths this season as they rank fifth with a 3.48 ERA entering Saturday’s action. While Philadelphia has not officially announced its probable pitchers for the series in Colorado, they’ll look to keep their success going as they hit the road.