The latest update on Aaron Nola stings less with Mick Abel and the Phillies rotation depth

The Phillies might not be getting Aaron Nola back as soon as they hoped.

Reports from Toronto passed along the latest update on Nola and it doesn’t sound great. Apparently, Nola was scheduled to throw live BP on Thursday but that didn’t happen. The Phillies instead decided to shut him down for now due to mild stiffness in his right side.

The team is still unsure about any type of timetable for return but obviously, Nola will need to get stretched out again before starting a rehab assignment.

So yeah, not great.

Aaron Nola hasn’t pitched since May 16th

He landed on the IL with a right ankle sprain suffered during an outfield drill. The expectation was that — if all went well this week — he’d be ramping up toward a rehab assignment soon.

Now all of that is officially on hold. Whether this stiffness is minor or something more concerning remains to be seen.

Either way, it’s the first real crack in Nola’s armor we’ve seen in years. The man has been a model of durability — this is his first injury-related IL stint since 2017.

Aaron Nola is 32 years old and just the second season of a 7-year, $172 million deal, so it’s fair to wonder if these little issues (remember, his neck also “locked up” before a start in early May) could start adding up.

For now, though, the Phillies’ rotation is holding strong and it helps when you’ve got a rookie like Mick Abel stepping in and looking the part.

Mick Abel Paint Job

Mick Abel Paint Job 🎨#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/owjfCl8YjG

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) June 5, 2025

Mick Abel: Making History Early

Abel made his second big-league start on Wednesday in Toronto — and delivered again. The 23-year-old tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts and zero walks.

The only run scored on a Bo Bichette triple in the sixth inning — a ball that probably should have been caught by Brandon Marsh, but hey, we move on.

Even with the loss, Mick Abel made some history. He’s now the first pitcher in at least the last 125 seasons to throw 5+ innings with 0 walks and 1 or fewer earned runs in each of his first two MLB appearances.

That’s a pretty damn good way to start a career.

Aaron Nola Who?

It’s a joke… mostly.

However, Mick Abel’s emergence is a huge boost for a Phillies team that’s had to juggle rotation spots with Nola on the shelf. Right now, the rotation looks like this:

• Zack Wheeler
• Ranger Suárez
• Cristopher Sánchez
• Jesús Luzardo
• Mick Abel

And waiting in the wings: No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter, who is set to start tonight for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His MLB debut? Likely coming sometime this summer.

So while it’s definitely not ideal to have Nola in limbo, the Phillies aren’t exactly panicking. They’ve got the depth — and they’ve got a rookie who looks ready to keep shoving.

We’ll keep an eye on Nola’s progress (or lack thereof). But for now? Enjoy watching the kid pitch.

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