Aaron Nola talks Game 6 start in NLCS vs Dbacks as Phillies can advance to World Series

NOLA – 2023 AND CAREER (POSTSEASON)
W-L ERA G GS IP H R ER BB SO
2023: 3-0 0.96 3 3 18.2 12 2 2 2 19
Career: 5-2 3.25 8 8 44.1 41 17 16 7 46

In the last four games he could either clinch a postseason spot, or a postseason series (10/3/22
at HOU, 10/8/22 at STL, 9/26/23 vs PIT and 10/4/23 vs MIA), Aaron Nola is 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA (1 ER, 27.0
IP), 0.56 WHIP and has 26 strikeouts to 2 walks … The Phillies are 4-0 in those 4 games … Over his last 5
starts (regular and postseason combined) since Sept. 20 at Atlanta, Nola is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA (5 ER, 31.1
IP) with 35 strikeouts to 2 walks … The Phillies are 22-13 in Nola’s 35 total starts this season (.629 win %)
and they have won 7 straight (since 9/9) and 11 of his last 12 (since 8/10).

In any best-of-seven Postseason series that was
tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win
the series 46 out of 65 times (70.7%), including 15-
of-19 times in the LCS (78.9%).
• When the road team wins Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead, they have won the series 22-of-28 times
(78.6%), including seven-of-eight times in the LCS
(87.5%).
• Philadelphia remains perfect in NLCS Game 5s after tonight’s win, improving to 7-0 all-time.

The Phillies starting rotation led the National League with 899.0 innings pitched this year which ranked 3rd in MLB, behind only SEA
(901.1) and HOU (900.0) … Philadelphia’s rotation put up 17.7 fWAR as a staff which ranked 1st among all MLB rotations (next: MIN, 16.5) and
was 3.2 wins in front of the next closest NL club (SD, 14.5) … Consequently, Philadelphia’s bullpen threw the fewest innings of any relief corps in
MLB this year with 543.1, yet Philadelphia’s relief pitchers combined for 6.7 fWAR which was 3rd in MLB behind LAD (7.6) and BAL (7.5) …
Combined (SP & RP), Phillies pitching put up 24.4 fWAR this year which was the best in MLB (next: TB, 20.6) and was 6.3 wins in front of SD who
ranked 2nd in the NL with 18.1 fWAR.

Aaron Nola

Q. It seems like we asked you this question all the time in the last couple of years. I mean, no matter what happens today, your start is going to have a significant magnitude. Do you think about that, and why have you been able to sort of be so consistent this time of the year for the most of the last two years?

AARON NOLA: I feel like lately it’s been a little more consistency delivery-wise, like I’ve said, these last couple of outings and especially in the postseason. I mean, everything matters so much right now, right?

We’re in Game 5 right now. Wheeler is taking the ball, and get one more start back home for the NLCS, so hopefully we can get this it one today and get back home to Philly and get prepared for that one. Today is a big game too.

GAME SIX: After picking up a victory on
Saturday night in Phoenix, the Phillies
return to Citizens Bank Park tonight with
a chance to clinch a second consecutive
trip to the World Series…Arizona is looking to stave off elimination with a victory
to force a decisive Game 7 tomorrow.
Teams trailing 3-2 to win Game 6 in a
seven-game series have gone on to
win the series 33-of-59 times (55.9%),
including 12-of-19 times in the LCS
(63.2%).
When road teams in that scenario win
Game 6, they have won the series 12-of-23 times (52.2%), including four of nine
times in the LCS (44.4%)…research courtesy of Elias.
TRYING TO GO BACK-TO-BACK: The
Phillies can punch their ticket to the World
Series for a ninth time in franchise history
(and a second consecutive season) with a
victory tonight.
Philadelphia has only reached the
World Series in consecutive years one
other time in franchise history (2008
and 2009).
The Phils are attempting to become
the fourth NL team in the Wild Card-era to clinch consecutive National League
pennants…the other three are the 2017-18 Dodgers, the 2008-09 Phillies and
the 1995-96 Braves.
The Fightins are 15-4 in the Postseason in potential clinch games…in clinch games
at home they are 9-2 (see chart above), including a 6-1 mark here at Citizens
Bank Park since it opened in 2007.
Furthermore, they’ve won all five potential clinch games under Rob Thomson
(one on the road and four at home).
Philadelphia has punched its ticket to the World Series at home in LCS play four
times: 1983, 1993, 2009 and last year, exactly one year ago today.
CAN WE SLITHER TO GAME 7?: The
D-Backs must win tonight to force a
decisive Game 7 tomorrow night.
Arizona is 6-5 all-time in potential
elimination games and 0-4 in such
games when they take place on the
road.
Tonight marks the D-Backs first Game 6 in a LCS…they won the 2001 LCS in five
games and were swept in the 2007 LCS in four games.
The Diamondbacks are 2-3 this season in South Philly (including the Postseason)…they took two-of-three here during the regular season from May 22-24
and lost the first two games of this NLCS here.

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