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Aaron Nola starts on two days’ rest vs. Rays as Phillies look to clinch postseason berth

Nola, who was the winning pitcher in the Phillies' 2022 wild-card clincher, may just go through the Rays' lineup once.

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola will take the mound on Saturday vs. the Rays.
Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola will take the mound on Saturday vs. the Rays.Read moreElizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

Aaron Nola is coming on for the save.

With the Phillies desperate to snap a losing skid and clinch the final National League wild card, Nola will start — on two days’ rest — Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Rays in Citizens Bank Park.

Nola threw 88 pitches and allowed four runs in six innings Wednesday night in a 4-1 loss to the Brewers. It was the first of three consecutive losses that kept the Phillies’ magic number frozen at two.

The Phillies’ lead over the Diamondbacks has dwindled to one game with two remaining. They can make the playoffs with any combination of wins and/or Arizona losses totaling two.

It’s possible that Nola, the longest-tenured Phillies player and winning pitcher in the 2022 wild-card clincher (also in Game 160), will be asked to go through the Rays’ lineup only one time before turning over the game to the bullpen. The Phillies don’t have a starter for Saturday night because Jesús Luzardo (left shoulder strain) isn’t eligible for reinstatement from the injured list until Sunday.

Nola has a 3.12 ERA in 89⅓ innings over his last 15 starts after posting a 6.04 ERA in 85 innings over his first 17 starts.

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