MIAMI — Expectations weren’t terribly high for Aaron Nola this season. He was coming off of a 2021 in which he’d posted a 4.63 ERA, the second highest mark of his career. His 2018 All-Star campaign, when he went 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA and 224 strikeouts, felt like a distant memory. It was hard to imagine him replicating that type of production again, especially coming off of a down year.
But Nola has been dominant this season and in the Phillies’ 4-0 win on Sunday, he gave a glimpse of his 2018 self. The right-handed starter pitched eight and 1/3 innings, allowing only four hits and one walk. He struck out 10 batters, the 25th time he’s done so in his career. He now has a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, which is a season-record for him.
It was easily Nola’s best start of the season, and it came just a few days after one of his worst. On July 11, in St. Louis, he went seven innings but allowed five earned runs, tied for the most he has allowed all year. On Sunday, he was on cruise control.
