Nola is playing with his delivery, last two games he threw 3/4 to sidearm, this game he had a similar delivery to Lively and Pivetta, a compact overhand motion which makes it harder to pick up the ball (i.e. it's overhand but not extended, so the ball is coming out of the white Phillies uniform. He started at 92-93 t95, and had much better movement on his two seamer, his curve was really erratic, while he only threw a few changeups but they were solid. I see a pitcher still figuring it out.
Seventh inning he ran out of steam, then hung a curve for a 2 run HR. Just turned 24 this month, and still needs more stamina and strength.
The elements for a #1 pitcher are there, he's increased his velocity, getting back his two seamer, has a plus curve and changeup at times.
Needs to get that great command back and throw all his pitches more consistently, but a 92-93 two seamer combined with a 95 four seamer is more than he showed last year.
It's easy to forget how young most of the Phillies starting pitchers are, sure a young 98 MPH pitcher can get away with bad location, but half the Met's rotation is on the DL.
Phillies have plenty of pitchers with enough velocity, Nola, Pivetta, Eflin and Velasquez, and guys who can make it work when they're on with Lively and Eickhoff.
But for the most part these are guys still putting it together. It comes down to command and secondary pitches.
