Are you worried about Aaron Nola yet?

The Phillies right-hander’s struggles has been one of the few noticeable blemishes on the club’s resurgence under Don Mattingly.

Yes, the question lingers ... is he fixable?

Nola showed some initial signs of breaking out of his doldrums in the first inning of Wednesday’s outing against the Reds with a strikeout and the majority of his 11 pitches hitting 94 or above.

However, an inning later, Nola’s issues returned, and the Reds erupted for three runs. Nola worked his way through five innings and managed to record five strikeouts.

That left him with a 6.01 ERA through 10 starts, and a WHIP of 1.56. In his last three starts, Nola has given up 22 hits with 11 strikeouts, five walks and an ERA of 9.43.

Ugh. Get out the Rolaids.

Glimmer of Hope ... Four starts ago, Nola scattered five hits over six shutout innings as part of a 94-pitch performance in picking up his second win of the season against Miami May 4.

His other win this season was an impressive, five-hit, one-run, nine-strikeout, one-walk, 91-pitch, 6.1-inning outing in a 10-1 win over Colorado April 3.

In his opening outing against Texas March 28, Nola again looked sharp, throwing 91 pitches over five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Taking away those two outings, Nola has an 8.51 ERA across his other starts.

More heartburn.

Can’t Beat the System ... It has been well documented that Nola’s slow deliberate style was affected when the pitch clock was instituted in 2023, as he admitted that it was an issue.

Nola was in his contract year, and began the season with a 4.46 ERA in March, and had a 4.93 ERA in May. Overall, he allowed 12 homers and had 65 strikeouts and 18 walks.

Nola ended the year with a 12-9 mark with a 4.46 ERA, but had a 1.15 WHIP, struck out 202 batters, and walked just 45.

The Big Deal ... Phils’ president Dave Dombrowski took the initiative to lock up Nola on a seven-year, $123 million deal, seeing the then 29-year-old as a staple.

Nola certainly looked the part in 2024 when he posted a 14-8 record with a 3.57 ERA, and appeared to have finally regained his magic when he went 41-24 with a 2.75 ERA with 637 strikeouts and 187 walks from 2017-19.

Last season, Nola stumbled through an injury-plagued season with a 5-10 record and a 6.01 ERA over 17 starts with a then season-high 1.34 WHIP.

He had the Phillies’ faithful cringing when he made a surprise postseason start against the Dodgers, but surprised by allowing just a hit with three strikeouts in just two innings.

Against All Odds ... This season, Nola has been affected by the ABS system, as he hasn’t gotten the same amount of calls working the corners like he has in the past.

Is there any relief ahead?

Nola has four years left on his contract, and would be difficult to move. The Phillies thought they had an insurance policy in Taijuan Walker until he showed his ineffectiveness and was released earlier this season.

Stopgaps ... Remember Walker Buehler? He was the insurance policy the Phils let walk away and instead they kept Walker. Buehler has a 3-2 record with a 5.01 ERA in nine starts with the Padres, but has won two of his last three starts.

Alan Rangel could be a stopgap measure from the Ironpigs, where he has a 2-4 overall record with a 2.74 ERA in seven starts. Top prospect Gage Wood has been bumped up to Reading, and will make his first start in Baseballtown tonight.

Is Wood on the fast track to Citizens Bank?

Cotham Codling ... Before a drastic measure, pitching coach Caleb Cotham will have his chance to weave his magic with Nola. Over the past few years, Cotham has been praised for his work with the Phillies staff. He has been seen as an instrumental force behind the development of Cristopher Sanchez.

Since he arrived in 2021, Cotham has helped the Phils’ starting staff lead all of baseball with a staggering 89.1 fWAR, and their rotation has consistently been in the top 10 in ERA.

Keep the Faith ... In all likelihood, the Phils will keep Nola in the rotation, and that could place more pressure on rookie Andrew Painter.

Nola will be deemed the Phils’ fifth starter until the trade deadline when Dombrowski will need to decide whether to acquire another starter. If Nola dips any further, that process will be on a faster track.

Keep the Rolaids handy.

Who’s the Best? ... In a recent Times New Facebook poll, the question was posed on who is the Phillies’ MVP at this point of the season among Sanchez, Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber?

Well, Sanchez drew 50 percent of the votes, Schwarber took 40, and Harper gained 10.

Sanchez certainly will be in the running for the Cy Young Award, and has also proven to be very valuable considering the Phils’ inconsistencies with their starting pitching.

Readers Write

Sanchez Salute

Dear Jeff,

I think Sanchez is the current MVP of the Phillies. He has been solid in almost every start and keeps the Phillies in the game. His ERA is under two right now, and he has become one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Melissa Hager

Lehighton

Schwarbombs

Dear Jeff,

MVP is a hard thing to define. Who is the Phillies’ best player? It’s Sanchez. Who is the Phillies’ most valuable player? It’s Schwarber. Without him, the offense struggles.

He (Schwarber) is the Phillies’ most valuable player.

Tyler Scheuer

Newtown Grant, PA

“Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act”

Editor’s Note: Thanks again to Melissa and Tyler for their continuing support!

New York, New York ... The Yankees looked to win their series against Toronto Thursday night before they begin a key three-game weekend set with first-place Tampa Bay.

The Rays had a 14-10 record on the road, but a major-league leading 19-5 slate at home. The Yanks are anxious for Garrit Cole’s first start since 2024 Friday night.

On the other side of town, the Mets are maintaining their youth movement with the recent influx of outfielder Nick Morabito and pitcher Zach Thornton.

With fellow rookies Carson Benge and AJ Ewing firmly implanted in the lineup, the Mets will be an interesting team to watch.

Shade of Whiter Pale ... The White Sox, who entered Thursday’s play winning eight of their last 11 games, are one of this year’s biggest surprises after they posted a 101-223 record over the previous two seasons.

The White Sox began play today with a 25-24, and were paced by Japanese import Munetaka Murakami, who had 17 homers and 33 RBIs. They didn’t have a .300 hitter, and their team batting average was .235.

Starting pitcher Davis Martin has a 6-1 record and a 1.61 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 56 innings with a 0.98 WHIP. Martin’s most wins in his four-year career was seven (7-10, 4.10) last season.

Former Phillie Seranthony Dominguez has 10 saves.

Diamond Digest ... In each column, I’ll take a look back at a former player, manager or game from the past.

On May 22, 1964, Chris Short tossed an eight-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over the defending champion Dodgers that featured Willie Davis, who had two hits. Ken McMullen added three hits.

Johnny Callison went 4-for-4, and Wes Covington and John Herrnstein each knocked in a run.

Scrapbook ... In each column, I will recount the career of a former standout from our area.

Nick Henry had a solid four-year career and was a three-sport star for the Tigers. The outfielder hit .382 with 18 RBIs in his 2021 senior year.

Henry continued his career at Moravian University, where he hit .291 with 59 RBIs, 104 hits in 119 games.

His best season was his sophomore season. In 38 games, he hit .314 with 24 runs scored, 25 RBIs, six doubles, two triples, one home run, four sacrifice hits and three stolen bases.

Your comments are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com