Aaron Nola is set to open Philadelphia’s bullpen game against the Tampa Bay Rays on two days’ rest, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reported. A Phillies win and an Arizona Diamondbacks loss to the San Diego Padres would clinch Philadelphia’s final National League Wild Card spot.
Nola is expected to be an opener, not a conventional starter. The article estimates he may throw at most 45–50 pitches, with three innings potentially setting up the bullpen, and says the short-rest outing may replace a scheduled bullpen session amid an exhausted relief corps. Jose Urquidy could follow; he threw 4⅔ scoreless innings in his Sept. 19 Phillies debut. Tim Mayza, used in three of the last four games, is being saved for Game 162. Jonathan Bowlan is dealing with a groin injury and has not pitched since Sept. 17.
Philadelphia has lost three straight and scored two runs total in its last three games, while Arizona has won six in a row. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper each had an OPS below .675 over the preceding seven days.
