Aaron Nola made history on Monday night as the Phillies clinched their first NL East title since 2011 with a 6-2 win over the Cubs.

This game marked the 57th win of Aaron Nola’s career at Citizens Bank Park, passing Phillies legend Cole Hamels, who originally held the record at 56 for the most all-time wins at CBP, per Dave Uram of KYW News Radio, via Scott Franzke.

Nola dazzled on a night where the Phillies needed a gem. He looked a little shaky in the first but really settled in, going six innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and striking out seven. He loaded the bases in the 7th, but Matt Strahm would eventually get out of the jam and limit the damage.

Nola has been lights out in clinchers.

He’s had four chances over the last three regular seasons to either send this team to the playoffs or clinch the NL East.


He’s logged a 1.37 ERA in those four games, allowing just four earned runs:

If you include playoff series clinchers in those numbers, he’s tallied a 1.62 ERA across seven starts with 46 strikeouts to just 7 walks: 

“(Aaron) Nola is a big game pitcher. He steps up when the lights are brightest. I know everyone is talking about the Game 2 pitcher because Cristopher Sanchez pitches so well at home. That’s a conversation to have, but Nola is a big game guy” – Rob Thomson via Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports

Nothing is more important than availability when you’re talking about a starting pitcher. Nobody in all of Major League Baseball has started more games than Aaron Nola since the beginning of the 2018 season. He has 60 more innings pitched than any arm in baseball since ‘18, while accumulating the third-highest fWAR amongst pitchers, trailing just Zack Wheeler and Gerrit Cole.

Taryn Hatcher asked Aaron Nola about his clinch-game mindset, and Nola said it’s no different than any other night. Obviously the juices are flowing a little more when there’s a division on the line, but Nola heads into every start with the same mindset. Trea Turner called Aaron Nola the most underrated pitcher in baseball Monday night in the clubhouse. It showed once again in this game. 

Nobody on this roster deserves an NL East Championship more than Aaron Nola. He’s went through the wringer with this team since 2015, and has been the stable backbone of this pitching staff for 10 seasons. If the Phillies bring home their first World Series trophy since 2008, he’ll be a big reason why.