Phillies

Aaron Nola Still Feeling Pain, J.T. Realmuto Slides Back into Lineup

By Luke Arcaini

Published: May 27th, 2025 · 5:24 PM EDT

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The Phillies’ starting rotation has been the best in baseball through Memorial Day, even without their 10-year veteran for the last two weeks.

Aaron Nola threw a “touch and feel” Tuesday session, which is basically a bullpen without full intensity. Nola said he’s “definitely” still feeling the pain from a sprained right ankle, although it’s starting to get a little better. Both Nola and Thomson spoke to reporters ahead of the Braves series, saying that the ankle is taking “longer than they expected.”

Rob Thomson said that if Nola felt good, that he’ll throw a normal bullpen, his first since hitting the IL, sometime later this week. Nola said that they’re “hoping” for Thursday if his ankle responds. Later Tuesday and then Wednesday morning will be a big test to see how it responds from the work. Nola said they’ll “probably” need a rehab start or two before he returns.

Even during Nola’s absence, the Phillies rotation has been holding it down. They got a fantastic major league debut from Mick Abel back on May 18th. Their rotation has a 3.22 ERA since May 16th, the day Nola officially hit the IL.

Part of that consistency is from J.T. Realmuto, who is hitting 8th in game one for the first time since May of 2022. Realmuto is hitting .225 in May and is just nine for his last 44. With Alec Bohm’s recent success at the plate, Thomson thought now was the right time to ease J.T. up at the plate while he’s working through some things, specifically his leg kick:

JT is trying a bunch of different stuff. He’s trying to maybe limit his leg kick a bit, but just getting the timing better. I just wanted to take a little pressure off of him and move him down a bit. Bohm’s swinging the bat good, Bohm and Casty have good numbers against Strider…I just thought it was the right thing to do for the time being.

While Thomson wants to take some pressure off of Realmuto, he doesn’t believe it’s something that requires time on the bench. It’s better for Realmutoto swing through it rather than take a night or two off:

He’s gotta play through it. He’s so important behind the plate to us and our pitching staff… J.T.’s the captain out there, he’s the backbone, the guy everyone looks to. I want him out there as much as possible...I think we’ve been giving him pretty good rest, there hasn’t been many times were he’s gone 4 in a row. I think we’re keeping him healthy and fresh.

The Phillies start a big series with the Atlanta Braves. Ranger Suarez will make the 5th start of his season after three solid starts against Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Colorado. Spencer Strider, a Philly favorite, will make his third start of the season after being activated off of the IL on May 19th.