The Philadelphia Phillies have announced that Aaron Nola will start Game 3 of their Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves. It’s not the biggest start of his career; it’s probably not even in the top five.
He’s thrown gems in these situations before: Game 161 in 2022 to clinch a playoff spot in Houston, Wild Card Game 1 in 2022, NLDS Game 3 in 2022, and NLCS Game 3 in 2023. He’s blown up in these situations before: World Series Game 1 and Game 5 in 2022, NLCS Game 6 in 2023, and NLDS Game 3 in 2024.
Most notably for his current scenario, though, Nola threw two scoreless innings as an opener in 2025 NLDS Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That seems the likely plan for Thursday’s contest against the Braves, but manager Don Mattingly is keeping his plans close to his chest.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Matting told his reporters postgame when asked about Zack Wheeler’s availability. “All hands on deck tomorrow. I’m sure [Atlanta’s] in the same boat.”
That could mean Jesus Luzardo will be available, too. He threw 77 pitches as a supposed opener against the Braves on Tuesday. More likely, they’ll save him for a potential NLDS Game 1 on Saturday against the Dodgers.
Every active Braves hitter against Aaron Nola in their career pic.twitter.com/Us7KTdWmqb
— AT (@BaseballWRLD_) October 1, 2026
But if the plan is to go from Nola to Wheeler, who would be pitching on three days' rest, then there is a clear path to nine innings without ever having to go deeper in their much-maligned bullpen than Jhoan Duran.
Wheeler has come out of the bullpen only once in his career, during NLCS Game 7 in 2023. On two days' rest, he threw 1.2 IP of scoreless ball before the Phillies fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
That night, the Phillies’ ace could do nothing to even the score after his team fell two runs down. Mattingly hopes to avoid the same scenario tonight, but he may use a more unconventional weapon.
The Phillies' Secret Weapon?
In 2026, Nola had a 2.82 ERA when caught by Garrett Stubbs. By J.T. Realmuto, it was 5.12.
Stubbs has never started a playoff game for obvious reasons. The diminutive catcher is not a good hitter. Since 2023, his OPS is .523. With three catchers on the playoff roster, the Phillies can save at-bats for the suddenly red-hot Realmuto.
Nola probably isn’t expected to go through the lineup more than once, and with Marchan waiting in the wings as Realmuto’s backup if/when Stubbs and Nola are pulled, the team has an emergency backup if anything happens to their 13-year veteran.
In the past, the Phillies have shied away from pulling their catcher in playoff games for fear of injury. Now, that fear can be assuaged.
The best plan of attack is a maximum of one at-bat for Stubbs, who’s also the team’s best bunter. Let Nola and Wheeler handle eight innings, and have Duran take the rest.
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