Aaron Nola set for major league debut

Aaron Nola boarded a bus on Friday morning with the rest of his triple-A Lehigh Valley teammates. He then was told he was needed at the front desk of the team's hotel in Rochester, N.Y.

"Why would they want to see me?" Nola said he thought.

Waiting there was IronPigs manager Dave Brundage, who told Nola that he was joining the Phillies. Nola arrived at Citizens Bank Park on Monday afternoon. He found his locker sandwiched between Chad Billingsley's and Cole Hamels'. The righthander will make his major-league debut against Tampa Bay Tuesday night.

"It kind of caught me by surprise," Nola said. "He told me it was my last start over there and I was kind of shocked. But this is definitely a good opportunity and a blessing to be here."

Nola spent just 13 months as a minor-leaguer. The 22-year-old will be the first Phillies player since Pat Combs in 1989 to reach the majors in the season after he was drafted. He has reserved 20 tickets for his family and friends, who will arrive in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

There will be some nerves, but he'll be OK once he fires a couple of pitches, Nola said.

"I just want to be the best that I can be," said the former LSU star, who was selected with the seventh pick in the 2014 draft. "I just want to go out there and give it everything that I have. And every time I step in between the lines, try to keep the team in the game and give us the best chance to win."

He went 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA this season in 18 starts with double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. The righthander has strong command and control of his fastball, which can reach 95 m.p.h. He combines the pitch with an effective curveball and change-up.

"His stuff is good enough to be effective at this level," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Depending on how well he commands his pitches, that's going to take him as far as it can take him. So we're all anxious to see him."

Nola threw 1712/3 innings last year between his final season at LSU and his first season as a minor-leaguer. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies will monitor his innings and probably not push him too far past last season's total. He has pitched 1091/3 this year, but Nola has not been told of an innings limit. He said his arm feels good.

"However many innings they want me to throw, then I'll throw," Nola said. "I'll do what they say as long as my body feels good and I'm healthy."

The Phillies placed righthander Chad Billingsley on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, after their 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

Billingsley was removed from his start Saturday when he felt discomfort in his shoulder. The Phillies said he had mild flexor tendinitis, but an MRI exam showed no structural damage.

Billingsley had surgery in June 2014 to repair the flexor tendon. His spot in the rotation will be filled by Jerome Williams, who will be activated from the disabled list before Tuesday's game.

"It's unfortunate," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Billingsley's struggles. "He's worked his rear end off to get back and to get to the point where he's pitching in the big leagues again. It's unfortunate that he's not able to do that anymore - at least right now."

The team optioned righthander David Buchanan to Lehigh Valley after the game.

- Matt Breen