After Tuesday night’s heroic performance against one of the best hitting teams in baseball, it was reported by multiple outlets that for the remainder of the regular season, the team expects to start ace Aaron Nola every five days. Today’s matinee rubber match is the first of those starts. Nola would have pitched in tomorrow’s game against the Pirates if the Phillies opted to use him as they normally would.
Maikel Franco also makes his return to the starting lineup for the first time since August 3. In a surprising move by the Phillies, the 26-year-old was sent-down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on August 4 to make room on the roster for Corey Dickerson.