A Phillies Question Mark: Is it Nola Time?

The Philadelphia Phillies have recently gotten a boost on the big league level from the promotion of Maikel Franco. Can a boost to their rotation from their top pitching prospect propel them higher?

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Aaron Nola is the Phillies top pitching prospect, and although he opened the season at No. 41 on the Grading on the Curve Top 50, he is soaring up the charts after his opening season performance. The 21-year old righty is already showing why the Phillies selected him seventh overall in last year’s draft.

Nola was sharp in his 12 game debut last season after being drafted in June. He finished last season with a very impressive run at Double-A Reading. After a rough start to 2015 season, Nola has been lights out for the Fightin’ Phils.

Heading into Nola’s Memorial Day start, he has turned around his 1-2 start by winning his last five in a row. He hasn’t just been eking by in those performances, he has been completely dominant. The numbers are borderline insane.

Nola has gone 35 innings over his last five outings. He has let up just three runs, including back-to-back shutout performances. The former LSU Tiger has been in the zone… literally. He has eclipsed 100 pitches twice, and in every one of his past five starts, he has thrown at least 65 percent of his pitches for strikes.

He has struck out 26 over the same span while walking just four. He hasn’t been all that hittable either, as opposing hitters haven’t even averaged a hit per inning over his five game romp. Nola’s season stats are now at elite levels. He sits at 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. Opponents are hitting just .203 against him and he has struck out 39 batters as opposed to a mere 6 walks over 52.2 innings.

There is no conundrum here to the Philadelphia Phillies. They don’t plan on contending this year, and pretty soon there will probably be a fire sale. Cole Hamels will probably be moved, Ryan Howard would have been traded ten times already if someone wanted to take on his salary, and Jonathan Papelbon has seemingly mentally checked out of Philly. There is no rush to get Nola to the big leagues. Or is there?

The Phillies have turned around a miserable start to 2015 and have gone 8-6 over the past two weeks. Suddenly, they have salvaged a lost season to actually starting to turn some heads. Do the Phillies try to make something out of nothing or to they stand tight and let Nola get his seasoning?

Here’s the thing. Nola has outgrown Double-A. He will get a promotion soon to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. Nola isn’t just pitching well for a minor leaguer, he is showing a skill set that is Major League ready.

Look at his command. He has a three pitch arsenal — highlighted by a low 90s fastball — that he has impeccable control over. It doesn’t matter if he is pitching to the Tom’s River Little League Team or the New York Mets, he is placing his pitches nearly flawlessly and isn’t being hit. These are the traits of a Major League ready pitcher.

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Right now, aside from Hamels and Aaron Harang, the Phillies current rotation and it’s depth are questionable at best. Sean O’Sullivan has strung together two consecutive nice starts, as has Severino Gonzalez but neither has shown that WOW factor. Jerome Williams should have stepped up by now and seemingly can’t get past the fifth inning as late. David Buchanan struggled his way to a demotion and then suffered a knee sprain that has him shelved for another month or so. Chad Billingsley can’t stay healthy, and didn’t look all that impressive when he was.

So, should the Phillies continue to improve and need some consistency in a fifth starter, why wouldn’t they turn to Nola? Lost season or not, Nola is their most exciting pitching prospect on the pipeline. Now may be the time to get him his big league audition and evaluate where they stand and address their needs for the trade deadline when they are sure to be sellers.

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