
The return of Aaron Nola? Phillies manager Rob Thomson reveals Nola will be throwing a bullpen session
With the second half of the season underway, Phillies manager Rob Thomson revealed Nola will be throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. The plan is for Nola to throw two innings or 35 pitches. If all goes well, Nola will throw another bullpen session on Tuesday.
Nola hasn't faced hitters since he went on the injured list May 16. He first had a right ankle sprain followed by a stress fracture in his right rib cage that slowed his timetable to return. The Phillies aren't expecting Nola back until mid-August at the earliest, as the veteran starter spent the last week-and-a-half at the team's spring training complex in Florida continuing his rehab assignment.
"I think it's a little easier sometimes to go to the complex because there's more people there and there's more room," Thomson said on how Nola fared in Clearwater. "You're not on any type of time restraint. I think it just gives you the freedom to do more things and there's an abundance of hitters who you can throw to.
"I think he made a lot of progress when he was down there."
The Phillies gave Mick Abel six starts in Nola's spot before sending him down to the minors a week before the All-Star Break. Abel actually came up on June 1 in Nola's spot after Taijuan Walker filled in that fifth starter spot for a few starts. Abel was sent down on July 4 and Walker took the No. 5 starting spot.
Walker is set to pitch Saturday in the second game out of the break. It might not be just one go-around either.
"He's got the run here," Thomson said.
The Phillies have been consistent with the July-ish timetable for top prospect Andrew Painter since last October, but his highly anticipated debut may be put on pause. Painter last started a game on Sunday and isn't scheduled to pitch until next Thursday, giving him an 11-day rest in between starts — as the Phillies planned around the All-Star Break.
"The stuff's good. The command isn't quite where it normally is for him," Thompson said. "You know, we'll just go start by start."
There are certain prerequisites for Painter to get called up to the big leagues. The Phillies have been consistent in their approach in not bringing Painter up based on merit. He'll have to earn his way into the rotation. Painter has started 16 games between Low-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, throwing 67.0 innings with 71 strikeouts to 21 walks and a 4.84 ERA.
In Lehigh Valley, Painter has made 12 starts in 55.2 innings, striking out 59 and walking 20. He's given up 11 home runs as opposing hitters have a .273 average against him. Painter has a 4.97 ERA.
"I've always said the whole time. He's gotta be healthy, and the thing is there's gotta be a spot there. So you know, I think he's gonna get to the point where he's Andrew Painter. I don't think he's quite there yet."
The Phillies are excited to get Painter in the major leagues, but aren't going to rush him. Once the command comes through, that timetable for Painter should be accelerated.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys sign TE Jake Ferguson to $52M deal as Micah Parsons continues without extension
The Dallas Cowboys got a deal done at training camp, but not the one fans are looking for. The Cowboys announced Sunday morning that they have signed tight end Tony Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension. All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, meanwhile, remains without a deal as he seeks an extension entering the final year of his rookie contract. The deal for Ferguson makes him the highest-paid tight end in Cowboys history and the seventh-highest paid tight end in the NFL, according to the Cowboys. He signed the extension with one year remaining on his four-year rookie contract that scheduled to pay him $3.4 million in 2025. A fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Ferguson was a part-time starter as a rookie and has been Dallas' No. 1 tight end in the two seasons since. He emerged as one of quarterback Dak Prescott's favorite targets in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns. Ferguson's production dropped last season as he tallied 59 catches for 494 yards without a touchdown. That still led Cowboys tight ends and was the good for the third-highest production among all Cowboys pass catchers behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys bolstered their receiving corps with the addition of former Pittsburgh Steeler George Pickens in the offseason. Ferguson projects to remain as a top target for Prescott. Jerry Jones jeered by fans over lack of Parsons progress Parsons, meanwhile remains without a contract extension as the Cowboys prepare to practice in pads for the first time on Sunday. The absence of his extension remains the top story at Cowboys camp and one of the biggest training camp stories in the NFL. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was greeted with boos and calls from fans to "pay Micah" as he addressed fans during a public training camp session on Saturday. Jones' address to fans took place days after his Monday news conference in which he swiped at the availability of both Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott while addressing Parsons' contract status at the start of training camp. Just because we sign him doesn't mean we're going to have him," Jones said of Parsons. "He was hurt six games last year. Seriously. I remember signing a player for the highest-paid at the position in the league and he got knocked out two-thirds of the year — Dak Prescott. "So there's a lot of things you can think about, just as the player does, when you're thinking about committing and guaranteeing money.' Parsons was not "hurt six games last year." He missed four of 17 games with injury. In his previous three seasons, Parsons played in 50 of 51 regular-season Cowboys games. He's a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl after each of his four seasons. Parsons is seeking a deal that will make him among the highest-paid defenders in football after fellow All-Pro pass rushers Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt signed contracts in the offseason paying them $40-plus million per season. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension ahead of Steelers training camp that set the new bar. Parsons reported to training camp without his extension, but has been a limited participant since practices started on Tuesday. He watched Wednesday's session from the sideline with back tightness, but declined to call himself a hold-in. Training camp escalates in intensity starting Sunday as the Cowboys practice in pads for the first time.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rashawn Slater agrees to four-year, $114-million deal with the Chargers
Rashawn Slater, a former first-round draft pick and one of the leaders on the Chargers offensive line, is staying in L.A. for the long haul. Slater has agreed to a four-year, $114-million contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Slater, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro in 2021, will be paid out $92 million guaranteed, ESPN and NFL Media reported. Read more: Is Tuli Tuipulotu the next Joey Bosa for the Chargers? Edge rusher 'does it all' Working as Justin Herbert's blindside protector, Slater started every game last season and played a valuable role in helping the Chargers set a franchise record for the fewest offensive turnovers (eight) in a season. He finished last season with the second-best overall grade and the third-best pass-blocking grade at offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus. Slater's tireless efforts certainly won over Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who has Slater in his exclusive "Elite Nine" club on the team that includes stars Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr. and Herbert, among others. 'Speaking on behalf of everyone in the organization, fully support Rashawn and what he's trying to accomplish for himself and his family,' said Harbaugh last month about Slater's push for a contract extension. 'We're all in support.' Times staff writers Sam Farmer and Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sabres avoid arbitration by signing defenseman Connor Timmins to 2-year, $4.4 million contract
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Conor Timmins by signing the newly acquired defenseman to a two-year, $4.4 million contract on Sunday. The 26-year-old Timmins was a restricted free agent and acquired with defenseman Isaac Beliveau in a trade that sent blue-liner Connor Clifton to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 28. The Sabres are Timmins' fifth team in six NHL seasons since the 2017 second-round draft pick broke into the league with Colorado in 2019-20. He finished last season with a career-high three goals and 15 points in 68 games split between Pittsburgh and Toronto. Overall, he has six goals and 46 points in 159 games. Timmins' signing leaves the Sabres with goalie Devon Levi as their only unsigned restricted free agent. ___ AP NHL: