Aaron Nola was lit up for eight runs — seven earned — in 4 2/3 innings by the Pirates on Monday.
The Phillies gave Nola five runs through the first three innings, only for Nola to allow two runs in the fourth and six in the fifth. With a 23 percent strikeout rate, Nola is still missing enough bats to seemingly be of some use as a fourth or fifth starter. Still, the hooks have to come quicker. One option would be to use an opener for him, but the problem there is that he’s actually done his best work this season in the first innings of games. The loss tonight leaves him 3-5 with a 6.04 ERA ahead of a date with the Royals.
