WASHINGTON — Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that he will use a six-man rotation beginning this weekend when Aaron Nola returns from the injured list.
Nola is lined up for the series finale Sunday at Washington. The 32-year-old right-hander is coming back from a right ankle sprain.
Left-hander Ranger Suárez takes the mound Monday against the Seattle Mariners. The National League East leaders also have ace right-hander Zack Wheeler, lefties Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, and right-hander Taijuan Walker.
Thomson said he isn’t sure how long he is going to use the six-man rotation.
“Once for sure, and then we’ve got some other ideas how to attack this thing as we move forward,” he said.
Philadelphia starters lead the majors with 693⅓ innings pitched. Sánchez is up to 150⅔ innings, and Wheeler is at 144⅔.
“Just getting some of these guys some extra rest ’cause we’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,” Thomson said before the opener of a four-game set against the Nationals. “The one downside to it is you’ve got to take somebody out of your bullpen, so you’re a little short there, but we’ll just have to figure it out.”
Nola hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 14. He posted a 2.19 ERA in three rehab starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley while striking out 17 batters in 12⅓ innings.
