After being rather inconsistent on the mound to start the season,, Phillies pitcher Aaon Nola is gaining some momentum in recent weeks.
This time last year Aaron Nola was falling apart on the mound. The Phillies’ most promising major-league starter was completely falling off after two strong months to start the season. He had a 10.42 ERA in June in 2016 and had a start skipped heading into the All-Star Break.
Now, Nola has been dominant on the mound. He finished June with a 3.24 ERA in five starts. In his last three starts, Nola has racked up 25 strikeouts and given up just three runs in 21.1 innings.
Aaron Nola has a 1.27 ERA in his last three starts. In his last six starts, he has a 2.68 ERA.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 4, 2017
He's found his groove. #GeauxPhils pic.twitter.com/e65hyO81Ll
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Nola’s last start Monday was his best of the season. It was the first time this year he didn’t allow a run as he went seven shutout innings. He walked just one batter and struck out eight while allowing four hits.
Manager Pete Mackanin credited Nola’s recent success with a change in approach on the mound. The team faced Mike Leake when the Cardinals were in town a few weeks ago.
Nola picked up some valuable info from watching the player he was compared to upon being drafted in 2014:
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"“Back when we played (the Cardinals), Mike Leake pitched against us,” Mackanin recalled. “(Pitching coach) Bob McClure asked Nola, ‘Did you notice anything about how Leake pitched?’ He said, ‘Yeah, he didn’t throw anything above the knees all day.’“That made an impression on Nola and he certainly has done that. Threw a couple of different types of curveballs tonight and his changeup is really getting to be a good pitch for him.”"
Since then, Nola has been using his two-seamer, curveball and changeup low in the zone far more often.
In effect, hitters have struggled to do much damage against them. In June, opposing hitters had a .185 batting average on Nola’s two-seamer and .188 average against his curve.
Next: Scott Kingery taking reps at third base
Nola has one more start before the All-Star Break Saturday against the Padres. It’s another opportunity to build some momentum for the second half of the season as he hopes to finish the season better than he started.