Aaron Nola is not ready to be vaccinated, but he is ready to pitch

PHILS INSIDER

Aaron Nola is not ready to be vaccinated, but he is ready to pitch

/ by Jim Salisbury

PHILS INSIDER

Jim Salisbury

PHILS INSIDER

Aaron Nola will return to the Phillies' rotation on Tuesday night and start against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Nola was scratched from his previously scheduled start Sunday in Boston after coming in contact with Alec Bohm, who had tested positive for COVID-19 the day before.

Bohm has shown no symptoms — "He feels great," manager Joe Girardi said Friday — but must remain on the COVID injured list through Tuesday and pass a test before being reinstated.

Relievers Connor Brogdon and Bailey Falter were also placed into COVID protocol after coming in contact with Bohm in Boston. Falter was reinstated for Friday's doubleheader against Miami. Brogdon was still out.

Nola will be activated before Tuesday's start in the Bronx. He showed no symptoms.

None of the aforementioned players have been vaccinated against COVID-19. That's why they continued to be tested and are subject to contact tracing — and more potential shutdowns.

Nola said "it sucked" having to be scratched from pitching in Fenway Park last weekend.

He was asked if the experience might prompt him to get vaccinated.

"I don't know," he said. "It's a personal choice. Not right now. I'll keep it at that."

The Phillies are one of just seven teams that have not reached the 85 percent vaccination rate that would cause some COVID protocols to be relaxed. Girardi, who has been vaccinated, doubts the Phillies will get to 85 percent.

"I think the people that have not been vaccinated probably won't get vaccinated," he said. "That would be my guess."

All this put the Phillies at risk of playing shorthanded during games that could have great importance during the second half of the season.

"Yeah, that's crossed our minds," Nola said. "We've got to be careful."

The Phillies have provided players with safety information about the vaccine, but there are still doubters in the Phillies clubhouse. Nola said he's felt no pressure in the clubhouse to shun the vaccine.

"I haven't really heard any of that," he said. "I haven't heard anybody say that. I just think they're personal choices. It's each guy's choice to do it or not do it."

Nola will end up going 13 days between starts before he finally pitches against the Yankees on Tuesday. The right-hander kept his arm loose by throwing against a fence at a local park during the break. He was at the ballpark Friday and participated in pre-game workouts so he will be able to get some side work done in the bullpen before his start in New York.