Aaron Nola's Rib Injury Forces Philadelphia Phillies to Pause His Return

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola will be sidelined for two weeks following an MRI that revealed a stress reaction in his right ribcage, as confirmed by manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday.

This latest injury adds to Nola's challenges; he has been recovering from a sprained right ankle since early May, which has not healed as quickly as anticipated. Last week, while in Toronto, he reported stiffness in his right side, leading to the cancellation of a scheduled session against live batters.

Thomson noted that Nola was uncertain about how the rib injury occurred. The pitcher has struggled this season, holding a record of 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA across nine starts. He signed a substantial seven-year, $172 million contract before the 2024 season, but his performance has been hindered by injuries.

Nola's ankle injury happened on May 8 during pregame agility drills at Steinbrenner Field while facing the Rays. Over his 11 seasons with the Phillies, he has accumulated a career record of 105-86 and a 3.78 ERA.

In Nola's absence, rookie Mick Abel will take on a more significant role in the rotation. Abel made a strong impression during his MLB debut when Nola was first placed on the injured list and is set to start against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old right-hander returned to the rotation last week, delivering an impressive performance of 5 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing just one run and three hits, although he did not earn a decision.

Abel currently boasts a record of 1-0 with a remarkable 0.79 ERA, having struck out 11 batters without issuing any walks over 11 1/3 innings this season.

Meanwhile, Thomson provided an update on Bryce Harper, who is recovering from right wrist inflammation that placed him on the 10-day injured list last Friday. Harper is reportedly feeling better and is looking to return soon.

The two-time National League MVP and eight-time All-Star has posted a .258 batting average with nine home runs, 34 RBIs, and eight stolen bases in 57 games this season. He previously missed five games from May 26 to June 2 due to a bruised right elbow after being hit by a pitch from Atlanta's Spencer Strider.