Aaron Nola’s postseason role with the Philadelphia Phillies looks to be decided. Based on recent comments made by manager Rob Thomson, he's apprehensive to use the right-hander out of the bullpen during the playoffs.
It is understandable why Thomson prefers to use Nola in the starting rotation for the playoffs. The pitcher has been a starter for the Phillies since 2015. However, his lack of production this year is concerning as the regular season nears its end.
Earlier this week, Thomson commented on the unlikelihood of Nola pitching out of the bullpen during the playoffs, per On Pattison’s Anthony SanFilippo.
”Nola's never pitched out of the 'pen,” Thomson said, per SanFilippo.
Could Walker Buehler knock Aaron Nola out of the postseason starting rotation? It doesn’t sound like it.
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) September 18, 2025
(Via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/OElDaxvRds
Thomson’s tone of his answer to the question suggests that Nola will be a starter in the playoffs despite the pitcher’s struggles this year. The manager does not want to use him as a reliever.
Why Rob Thomson should use Aaron Nola as a reliever during the playoffs
Nola has been plagued by having one bad inning in several of his appearances this season. He admitted it himself following his inconsistent start on Sept. 14 versus the Kansas City Royals,
per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Noah Levick.
”Just the one big inning,” Nola said when asked about what he wants to clean up before the playoffs, per Levick. “It’s kind of hit me all year this year.”
Nola has been snake bitten this year due to having one terrible inning in multiple outings. He has not always been getting enough run support from the Phillies hitters, either.
The former first-round pick by Philadelphia in the 2014 MLB Draft missed three months due to a right ankle sprain and a stress fracture in his rib cage but has been a durable starter throughout his career. Not counting the shortened 2020 season, the last year he missed time with injury was in 2017.
Nola pitched well for the first few innings against the Royals but was unable to sustain the momentum throughout the duration of his start. He was excellent against the New York Mets on Sept. 8 as he limited New York to zero runs and three hits with seven strikeouts.
The Phillies used both Taijuan Walker and Walker Buehler in a piggyback situation on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite never being used as a reliever, why shouldn’t Thomson use Nola in a role where he only pitches a few innings in a postseason game?
Nola’s tendency to surrender multiple runs in an inning needs to be addressed especially if he has the same issues in his remaining outings before the end of the regular season.
The bottom line is Nola is not having a good year. His home runs per nine innings is 1.89, which would be the highest of his career. The 32-year-old’s tendency to allow home runs over the last few years is a concern. His FIP is 4.91, which would be another career high.
Thomson should take a risk and bring Nola out of the bullpen or only have him start for a few innings during the postseason. The franchise can’t afford to have him have one bad inning in a playoff start.