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Sep 14, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Nola Returns

Sunday will mark the first time Aaron Nola will make a major-league start since April 20. The righty will have missed a month with a back strain that he sustained in his last start before landing on the DL. The question is, how will Nola perform coming back from the injury?

Before hitting the disabled list, Nola wasn’t off to a great start. He had a 4.50 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 2.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first three starts of the season. Nola’s walk rate of 8.7%, while not too bad, is notably higher than it ever has been in his professional career.

In his last start, Nola gave up four runs on seven hits and four walks to the Mets. The righty lasted just five innings but still got the win thanks to the five runs Philadelphia had by the end of the third inning.

Nola looked much better in his two rehab starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He gave up just one run in four innings May 10 before going 6.1 scoreless May 15 with seven strikeouts and one walk allowed.

It would be understandable if Nola struggled a bit after missing more than a month, but with multiple injuries now under his belt, any struggles will be worrisome and bring up questions of his healthiness.

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