The Philadelphia Phillies have continued climbing the National League East standings, but the performance of veteran starter Aaron Nola remains a growing concern for the club. After another difficult outing in Wednesday’s 9-4 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds, manager Don Mattingly addressed the ongoing struggles of the right-hander and explained the efforts being made behind the scenes to help him regain form.
Nola’s latest start added to what has already been a frustrating 2026 campaign. The experienced pitcher surrendered eight hits and four earned runs over five innings, dropping his season record to 2-4. Through 10 starts this year, he has allowed at least three runs in eight appearances and currently owns a troubling 6.04 ERA. While Philadelphia has enjoyed success overall under Mattingly, posting a 16-6 record during his tenure, the team has struggled to find consistency when Nola takes the mound, going just 4-6 in his starts.
Despite the Phillies winning Nola’s previous three outings, his performances during that stretch were still far from dominant, as he carried a 6.05 ERA throughout May. Wednesday’s loss also ended Philadelphia’s impressive streak of six consecutive series victories. The team now shifts focus toward an upcoming home series against the Cleveland Guardians, hoping to quickly regain momentum.
Speaking about Nola’s difficulties, Mattingly admitted there is concern when looking at the larger body of work, especially considering the struggles date back to last season. In 2025, Nola endured one of the toughest years of his career, finishing with a 5-10 record and a 6.01 ERA in 17 major league starts.
Still, Mattingly explained that the coaching staff is trying to evaluate each outing individually rather than becoming overwhelmed by the bigger picture. He emphasized that pitching coach Caleb Cotham and the staff continue searching for ways to help Nola improve and regain consistency on the mound.
According to Mattingly, one of the biggest problems has been Nola’s inability to maintain steady command and effectiveness deep into games. The veteran has pitched only 50 2/3 innings this season and has failed to record more than 15 outs in seven of his 10 starts, forcing heavy reliance on the bullpen.
The Phillies have discussed multiple possible adjustments with Nola. Mattingly revealed the team has considered changes in pitch usage, including whether he should throw more fastballs, rely on them less, or incorporate his changeup and breaking pitches more frequently. The manager explained that every opponent presents different challenges, meaning there is no single fix that will suddenly reverse Nola’s fortunes.
For Nola himself, the struggles have been especially difficult emotionally. Once viewed as the ace of Philadelphia’s rotation and one of the National League’s most dependable starters, he now finds himself battling inconsistency and declining results. Reflecting on Wednesday’s outing, Nola admitted bluntly that there was “nothing great” about his performance.
Unlike last season, when injuries including a sprained ankle and a fractured rib cage contributed to his problems, Nola insists he currently feels healthy. That reality may make the situation even more concerning for the Phillies, as his declining effectiveness appears tied more to performance issues than physical limitations.
Opponents are hitting .356 on balls in play against him this season, while his average fastball velocity has dipped to 92.4 mph. Nola acknowledged that adapting to changes in his game has become necessary and admitted the adjustment process has not been easy.v
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