Aaron Nola just gave Phillies exact Game 3 start they needed with backs against wall

The Philadelphia Phillies entered Wednesday's Game 3 with one choice. Down 0-2, if they wanted to keep playing this season, they would have to beat the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers to stay alive in the National League Division Series. Luckily, Aaron Nola gave the Phillies the exact start they were looking for, giving them a fighting chance to keep this NLDS going.

After the season Nola just had, there was obviously apprehension among fans about the decision to start him in the elimination game. But manager Rob Thomson went with his veteran and the move paid off, at least through the first two innings, as Nola kept his team in a scoreless game heading to the third inning.

Phillies got two clean innings from Aaron Nola when they needed it most against Dodgers in NLDS Game 3

Nola entered the postseason coming off easily his best outing of a disappointing and injury-plagued year. The right-hander kept the mojo going against Dodgers hitters, tossing two innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out three.

Nola did run into a little trouble in the first. With one out, he was forced to work around a brutal defensive play by Brandon Marsh in center field. On a Mookie Betts sinking liner, Marsh dove at a ball he had no chance of catching, turning a single into a triple. After striking out Teoscar Hernández, Nola hit Freddie Freeman in the foot but then froze Will Smith on a beautiful curveball to escape the inning.

Nola retired the side in order in the second, ending his night after facing just eight Dodgers batters. Despite Nola looking good, Thomson — as was his pre-game plan — brought Ranger Suárez in to start the third.

Suárez gave up a solo home run on his first pitch to ninth hitter Tommy Edman but the Phillies scored three in the top of the fourth off Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto to take a 3-1 lead. It will be up to the lefty Suárez and the bullpen to bring this one home.

Nola came into 2025 MLB playoffs with something to prove after rough season

In his 10th season in the majors, all with the Phillies, Nola struggled to a 5-10 record with a 6.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 17 starts. He spent three months on the injured list, dealing first with a sprained ankle and then a rib stress fracture.

He made eight starts after returning to the active roster on Aug. 17, posting a 5.84 ERA and not convincing many fans that he was going to be an asset in the playoffs. He did have a couple of highlights over the final month, however, including pitching a six-inning gem of a shutout against the New York Mets and his season finale when he went eight one-run innings against the Minnesota Twins.

Since the Phillies returned to the playoffs in 2022, Nola had made 10 postseason starts before Wednesday's Game 3. He carried a 5-4 record with a 4.02 ERA and 58 strikeouts to 11 walks in 53 2/3 innings.

Now, with an early lead in a must-win game, the Phillies need to keep the good vibes going and hold onto this one to push the NLDS to Game 4.