By Sunday 
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Aaron Nola is off to a brutal start in 2025. Five starts, five losses, and a ballooning 6.43 ERA. The Phillies pitcher isn’t just having a rough patch; he’s deep in a rut. And Monday night’s game against the Mets at Citi Field didn’t do him any favors.
Sure, there were moments when Nola battled. But “almost” doesn’t show up in the box score, and close calls don’t win games.
A Game of Inches—and Mistakes
One swing from Juan Soto in the third inning had Mets fans celebrating a three-run bomb… for about thirty seconds. Replay review showed the towering shot hooked just foul. But that near-miss was just one of many moments where Nola danced on the edge.
The Phillies rolled the dice by sending him back out for the bottom of the seventh. That gamble didn’t pay off.
Before the dust settled, Nola had given up seven hits, four earned runs, and two long balls. Two runners he left on base eventually scored when Francisco Lindor took José Ruiz deep for a three-run homer. Nola’s final line? Not pretty.
“It’s Pretty Brutal”
The frustration is starting to show.
“It’s frustrating, for sure,” Nola admitted after the loss. “I mean, I’m 0-5 with a six-and-a-half. It’s pretty brutal.”
The tone was somber but honest. Nola isn’t hiding from his struggles, and he’s not making excuses. He’s just trying to find answers.
What’s Going On with the Velocity?
One major red flag? The fastball. Nola’s heater averaged 92.1 mph last year. This year, he’s hovering around 90.7 mph—and Monday night, it dipped below 90 at times. In a league where velocity is king, that’s not nothing.
A poorly located 90.7 mph fastball served up Jesse Winker’s first home run of the season in the second inning. And it wasn’t just about the speed—it was the placement. Middle of the plate, no life, gone to center field.
Some are pointing to the cold April weather. Both Nola and manager Rob Thomson have floated that theory. And sure, maybe the fastball will have more bite once the temps heat up. But if it doesn’t? That’s a problem.
Manager’s Call: Risky or Necessary?
So why did Thomson leave Nola in for the seventh?
“Just because we were a little short in the ‘pen,” he said. “I thought he was still in good shape.”
Nola got one out before allowing two runners on. Ruiz came in, and Lindor made the Phillies pay. It’s easy to second-guess after the fact—but when your starter is laboring and already giving up hard contact, the risk becomes obvious.
A Vet Who Knows the Score
This isn’t some rookie trying to find his footing. Nola’s a seasoned vet in his 11th year. He knows how the game works. And more importantly, he knows what he needs to do:
“I gotta keep competing, man. I gotta keep trying to throw a lot of innings and limit the runs,” he said.
“I can’t control the results, but I can control the walks and getting ahead of guys.”
There’s still belief in that voice. Not panic, just purpose.
Looking Ahead
It’s early in the season, and yes, there’s time for Nola to turn things around. If the weather warms and the fastball perks up, maybe we’ll be talking about this slow start as a distant memory. But the margin for error is shrinking. The Phillies need their guy back—and soon.
Until then, Nola’s going to keep grinding. Keep battling. Because that’s what pros do, even when the numbers aren’t kind.