High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Aaron Nola Is Back?

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

The Philadelphia Phillies finished off their sweep of the Marlins on Wednesday night thanks to a dominant performance from Aaron Nola. Jack Fritz reacts to the win and preview's the upcoming series against the Cardinals. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes Pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. What bunch of idiots let the Phil's get hot. Welcome on in. It is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday night.

as we react to a Phil's win pretty free and easy, pretty free and easy. A masterclass from Aaron Nola will get into it all. As always, the final out is brought to you by the Philadelphia Parking Authority offering valet park at the Philadelphia airport. I'm old enough to remember around this time last week after they lost the Cardinals. The season was over. This group is dead. You got to blow it up at the end of the. a year, yada, yada, yada. And here we are, a mere six games later, and everything's fine.

That's baseball. That is baseball. Yes, I was a part of it. I was very down. But listen, I'm an emotional roller coaster where it comes to this baseball team. I think we all are. And it has been an impressive week since. Obviously, the trip to Iowa has been talked about. the now famous meeting that they all said, hey, we should probably go up there with the plan. And it has resulted in very strong offensive outbursts. The game wrap up is sponsored by Roto Router. When Plumbing Problems, Hit, wrap them up, quick, and call Roto Router.

Their team tackles, clogs, leaks. So you can stay in the game, Roto Router, your MVP for plumbing solutions. 215, 5992, get in if you are in. traffic on your way home. There's no flow ride at concerts tonight. So I expect there to be more traffic on the roadways. So if you're stuck in traffic, would love to get your takeaways from this one tonight. Or if you were like me and, well, I listen to most of the game on the radio tonight, watching or driving the boys around trying to get them to sleep. But, you know, that early start time for us young parents out there. Throw some things off. And throw some things off. But

nevertheless, we got the job done. 215.5.9. to 94-94-2 get in. The biggest takeaway is the game are brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm and the story of the night. And really just one

of the biggest turnarounds I think I can remember from where he was, looking like one of the worst pitchers in baseball, having an ERA over six for two straight seasons. A lot of this is who he is now. Stuff just kind of

dying at the plate to where he is now where he's got a 2.51 ERA in his last five starts. If you go even further back, he has a 3.6 ERA since July 1, I believe. So Aaron Nola has really turned into a serviceable starter again for this team and Maddenly pushed him. You know, this Philly's bullpen is in a pretty dire spot. They had more of their guys ready to go tonight, but they were down Kirkring. So that kind of affected the seventh inning. You don't totally trust Alvarado in that spot. I guess Alex Farlane's not ready for it just yet.

So you let Nola go out there against the bottom of the lineup. And he went out and did his job. And, you know, he didn't walk anyone tonight. He struck out seven, very clean, efficient, 100 pitches. Or sorry, struck out eight. 100 pitches and seven innings. ERAs back to 5.1. We're back. We're back. Only allowed five hits. And what I thought was really interesting or I guess good was a 63% whiff rate on that curveball tonight. I think it was 12 to 18 swings and misses on that pitch, like when they swung.

So yeah, that pitch has been money for him recently. He has done a much, much, much better job of getting on top of the baseball. keeping it down. When he goes up, he's not missing in the middle of the strike zone, and he just looks like a totally different guy. The stuff looks like it's had a little bit of an uptick, which is huge. I think his command has gotten a lot better as the season has gone on, and I'm just really happy for him.

You know, Aaron Nola, not going to lie and say he's like my favorite, but the guy's a career Philly. He's had a lot of good moments. He tied it. Hamels for 114 wins as a Philly. Impressive. We know where he's at strikeout wise. And I'm just glad that we're not going to head into another year or end of season where it's just he's out there laboring. And he feel like he's a dog on his last leg.

But, you know, for a career Philly to have this resurgence, to not feel like every time he goes out that you're automatically going to lose. you've got to almost watch with your hands over your eyes. I'm very, very happy for Aaron Nola to be able to write the ship here, help this team out, and give them good quality outings for the last couple of times through the rotation. Obviously, there's been a lot of scars with Aaron Nola the last two seasons, but what he's done recently is the best he has looked in a long while, in a long, long while. And I'm just glad that it's not a super, super, like, toxic conversation around Aaron Nolan now. And we can get back to appreciating and understanding the pitcher he has been for this organization.

So shout to Knowles and hopefully you can keep it up. And being able to go seven innings tonight with where this bullpen is at is just huge. We talked a lot about, you know, even the wheelers and the same. and obviously where Painter is at. It's been a lot of five-inning outings, which does tax your bullpen. So any time you can get a start where a guy can pitch into the seventh and get through the seventh the way Nola did tonight,

it is just huge for where this team is at. 215, 5.592. 94. Last thing before we get to the phones is we have to check in on the have-a-plan-the-plate fills where they racked up 10 more hits tonight, hits off of Alconra, and yes, they only scored three off of him, but racking up eight hits against a guy that had a 1.80RA since July 1 and scoring three runs, a rise at the home run, which was nice, kind of a little pimp job from Louis to rise on that one. I liked it. I liked it,

because sometimes he does it and it's a weak flyout to right field. He knew he got that one, so it was much appreciated. But just having more ducks in the pond, having more traffic on the base pass. Having eight hits against Sandy Alcantra and scratching across three runs, we've had a lot of questions of, okay, well, will they have that approach against a actually good pitcher or a pitcher with a pulse? It doesn't have to be the best pitcher in baseball, but, you know, San Diego Contra is won a Cy Young. He is now kind of getting back to being Prime Alcantra after last year was first year back from

Tommy John had a good start to this year, cooled off in the middle, and has been really, really good since, since again, July 1. And to be able to do that, I think, is a good sign for the have a plan at the plate fills. And even more impressive, two things. Another insurance run tonight. Now, it was a little shaky with Schwarber and, you know, being sent there by Anthony Contreras and somehow getting his hand in there and everything's fine.

They scored an insurance run and we're all good. but they also only struck out one time tonight. One strikeout. Can you remember the last time a Phillies team, this version of a Phillies team? Shruck out one time in a game. We'll have to get some of the stat nerds out there on that. But one time in a game,

that feels impossible for this version of this Phillies team. So good signs there and a series sweep, six straight wins. They've rattled off since, a lot of the city really truly proclaim them dead and good for the fellas and good for Aaron Noah

Matt is in Westchester what's happening Matt Hey how are Jack what's going on I'm coming home from the game I got two big takeaways one being what you just said the one strikeout

in the entire game let alone versus a pitcher like Alcantra is something that I feel like I've never seen out of this Phillies team in this run over the past few years. And I think that's my biggest takeaway of the game. But it's also super nice to see Aeronola go through seven innings. And because I feel like we were getting to the point where we were getting ready to take him out behind the barn and just kind of just throw the towel in on him.

But it's super nice to see him get back to his ways. Yeah, it really is, Matt. And the reality is he probably wasn't going anywhere. is four years left on that contract. And, you know, they held on to Taiwan until this year because they're still paying them. So they were going to give Aaron Nola every opportunity that they could for him to pitch his way through it or, I don't know, just take the ball for as long as he is healthy. I don't think he ever would have worked out of the bullpen. So this all kind of feels like a cherry on top.

I know that sounds insane with four years left on a contract. but this, I wasn't sure we were ever going to see this stretch from Aaronola ever again. I thought every once in a while he'd pop up and give you a good start, but I didn't think he'd have a run like this. I mean, this is not 18 Nola, but this is at least one of those good years after that where he was giving you a solid outing each turn through the rotation. And, you know, he's still his bleepin Nola moments during those runs.

but taking the ball every fifth day, giving them good quality innings, mostly getting a quality start. That was the Aeronola. And the guy he's been his last five starts and even a little bit beyond that has certainly been closer to that guy. So good for Aeronola career Philly that is having a nice little resurgence here to end the 2026 campaign. All right.

On the other side, we'll get to the wow moment of the game and some other thoughts on tonight's end. the Phil's made a signing official after the game. We'll get to that as well. Here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIPA. Hey, a little Peter Parker impression there from Brandon Marsh, and that is our wow moment of the game, brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism,

from waterfalls to fairways, mountain resorts to Lighthouse Tours. Find your wow at VisitNJ.com. A great catch by Brandon Marsh there. I thought John the Bowling, a little shaky. He is out in the other night wasn't great either. I kind of chalked that up to it being the rain tonight. He got through it, but it wasn't clean and crisp.

That play was really big, gave him two outs runners on first base and three on leady it. You want to get as many outs as possible in that situation. It's kind of seems like he's lost to feel for that curveball a little bit, but he's had a really, really solid year from the Phil's, and I think he will regain form here soon. But the marsh catch in that spot, a big monster. moment and it's always nice. It's always, I don't know, the Phillies don't rob many home runs.

I know that Derek Hill robbery happened, but it's always funny when you see one of those plays, because those are the ones you always kind of dream of it as a kid where you can climb up on the wall and then rob it. You know, Griffey's obviously the best example of that, you know, for his catchback in the day. But, you know, it was a solid, solid moment. It is the final out Jack Fred's hanging out with you. Reacting to a Phil's 4-1.

win as always the final out sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, offering Valley Park at the Philadelphia Airport as the Phil's bring home their sixth straight win. Six straight wins for the Phil's. Beautiful sight. We'll get some other thoughts from tonight and some thoughts on the signing of the Phillies made official in just one second. But let's talk to Sean in Plymouth meeting. What's happening, Sean? Hey, Jack, what's going on?

Nothing much, man. We're just, we're back. We're back. No, I can't emphasize that enough. My thoughts on the Phillies are so much better when Aaron Nola is pitching great. I mean, Aaron Nola, to me, is like the Roy Halliday and Nicole Hamill's to you guys. I grew up on the 9.7 war. I love that season so much.

So it's really good to see. It's really good to see. Yeah, dude, 2018 Nola was generational, man. I will never forget. And don't ever want to forget the 2018 Nola season. that's like my little ball knowledge that but anyway i just love seeing his um curb ball a strikeout pitch it looks beautiful in the past two starts um it was beautiful especially seen in iowa um but also i want to emphasize that five out of six games um during this sweep they've had 10 plus hits and the

one game that they didn't they had nine hits so really like the small ball kind of going on yeah sean and and i appreciate you the phone call and totally agree i mean they're kind of they're beating you in different ways again they didn't score a ton of runs tonight was the first time they didn't score six or more runs during this stretch. But at the same time, this is the best starter they faced during the stretch. They still had eight hits. They did hit a home run off them. You know, I talked about earlier and last night, you know, before tonight, two out of the last four games,

they hit a home run. And it wasn't like they were relying upon the home run. And tonight's not like they relied upon the home run. The home run was nice. And it was good to see, but they did have traffic on the base pass. They didn't feel like they were just waiting around for a home run. And I think when they are waiting around for Schwabor to pop one or Harper to pop one, I think that's when the offense goes through their ruts.

They didn't do that tonight, and they haven't really done it in this six-game sample size. So, again, we've seen them do this before. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but this is the kind of stuff that could make this October a little different. Also, we got to start figuring out we're going to put NOLs in the old playoff rotation. Come on, man. Hey, hey, Wheeler keeps struggling. I don't know.

Might have to start Nola over him. Just kidding. But it is still good to see. A couple of things I want to get to. Again, it wasn't like the biggest offensive outbursts, runs-wise. You know, it's good stuff. It was nice to see.

Marsh get a couple hits. Good to see old stubby. Come on, man. Stubbsy got two hits tonight. That was good to see. They won a game. where Stought and Boem each didn't get hits. Unfortunately, Stoddard's 10-game hitting streak came to an end.

I think it was 20-some game on base streak. Harper was able to extend his on base streak to 23 games now. So, but yeah, so Stott and Boem, it's not even had bad nights. Bome hit a couple of balls hard, but they won a game without two of their hottest hitters having nights. And we're still kind of waiting for the Schwabre Turner run. Turner had the hit tonight, which was a good one, but has certainly cold off after he kind of right of the ship there a little bit. But speaking of Trey, I do think that his defense has been under-talked about.

It really hasn't been mentioned at all, maybe because it can't lead a show on WIP now. But really since July, his defense has been fine. He had the Yips situation that Bobby Dickerson talked about at the end of July. But in August, maybe going to Bryce Stott's glove has helped him, but certainly looks closer to where he was last year than, you know, where it was in August where a routine ground ball hit right at him.

You felt like it was a coin flip as to if he was going to be able to make the play. So I do think we need to start highlighting at least where Trey's defense is at. And, you know, what it can mean going forward, it kind of felt like after the year they're going to have to have the conversation. of, hey, you got to go play center field or you got to play left field. I think I prefer a left field just because I don't want him as he gets older running around in center field. I think that could open up to some hamstring issues, but that's a story, that's a conversation for another day. If he keeps flying like this, just letting you know they're not going to move him

off shortstop. I don't think that I think the tray moving off shortstop thing is going to be about to, they're going to wait as long as they possibly can to make that decision. I don't think Trey wants to move off shortstop. There's a lot of years left in that deal. I don't think their goal was to move him off it in the first, what was it? It's going to be five, four years, five years of that deal. I think they thought that was the back end portion of that. I do think that Trey wants to try to make the Hall of Fame. And his numbers as a shortstop certainly would bode better than his numbers is a center fielder or left fielder. So I don't think they are in a rush to move him to one of the outfield positions.

I think that is a when it becomes painfully obvious that they have to. And if he keeps playing shortstop at least like this, where it's, again, not like it's Jimmy Rollins out there, but serviceable, I just don't think they're going to do it. I don't think they're going to do it. And then last thing here, the Phillies did sign Necessible. Cortez officially after the game for a little bit of depth. I think he's going to go through the minor leagues, make some starts. I think he got a little bit of a late start.

He had shoulder surgery in October that he was working his way back from. Maybe that contributed to his pretty putrid year last year for both the Brewers and the Padres. But, you know, someone who has won a good amount of games recently at the big league level and someone who, honestly, if he can just be competent and pitch well enough to where you feel comfortable skipping or pushing back Wheeler or Sanchez or possibly Phantom I yelling, either of those guys, I know it's tough to say right now because they are in the heart of a playoff run, but they got to have some planning purposes. He could probably be a long man as well. The bullpen's been taxed. There's a lot of five-inning starts rather than six, seven innings. So you need some guys to help get you through a baseball game.

So it's a shot in the dark, but one where, listen, he's gotten plenty of outs at the big league level in recent years last year. Not his best, but hey, maybe the injury had something to do with it. So we'll see what Nestor-Gortez has left in the tank. It does remind me a lot of Walker Bueller last year. But, yeah, Nessie-Cortez, your newest. Phil. All right. On the other side, we'll get to the player of the game and also a look around the league as it was another pretty solid night for the Phil's and the playoff picture. We'll get to that. Coming up next here on the final album on Sports Radio 94 WIP.

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wherever you get your podcasts. Swing and a mess, struck him out. Curb ball again. It's strikeout number eight on the night for Aaron Nola, who gives the Philly seven strong innings against the Marlins. That is right. Aaron Nola, a dominant performance tonight. He does do well against the Marlins.

Two outings this year of seven innings have been against the Marlins. So he has a good feel for that team. He also against the lefties in the lineup, I feel like he goes way more change-up heavy. So, you know, change-up and curveballs for like more and more against those guys. It's a better plan of attack. But Aaron Nola is our player of the game. Brought to you by South Jersey Gas, make the smart play, save energy and money. with South Jersey Gas at SJG SaveEnergy.com.

Might have to lead the show tomorrow with, you need to win one game right now. Are you giving the ball to Nola or Sanchez or Wheeler? It's a conversation. It's a conversation. 215-592, 94-94. The final out was sponsored by the Philadelphia Park Authority Offering Valley Park at the Philadelphia Airport.

Last segment here before we hand things off to Jody Mack. All right. Let's try Nick and Princeton. What's happening, Nick? Hey, Jack. Good to talk to you. Good to talk to you, too, pal. Great team win tonight. Really loved it and love everything you

and the previous callers were saying about Nola, because that was a great start for anybody, but really good to see it from a guy we drafted. Had a great career here, so that was awesome. Yeah, I agree. I mean, and what's going to be so great, Nick, is one day he's going to share the Wall of Fame with the likes

of Mike Leberthal and he's going to be sitting out there and it's just going to be, it's going to feel so right. Two of the greatest, you know? So my question for you actually some of the best. But as a guy that's played the game,

I wonder what you think that's going to do for Nola's confidence going into the postseason because I wanted Madingley to take him out after six after got hit around a little bit but. Well, Nick, we were all hoping. They took him out of the same. And yes, that is a, Nick in Princeton is one of my high school buddies.

And he has been the biggest Mike Learberthal's echo for our entire lives. Going back to elementary school. I believe it was, I believe it was fourth grade Halloween. He dressed up in full catchers gear as Mike Learberthal. So that's an inside joke that we are bringing now to the hundreds of thousands of WIP listeners out there. So apologies for that one. But nevertheless, yeah, I think that I think if you're Nola right now, you've got to be feeling good about where you're at,

especially from where you were. And I think you're just starting to see him get that confidence back. I bet there was a time when he was getting blasted where, you know, you just, you were nervous to throw a fastball. And, you know, L.A. talks about it all the time, but it's true, you know, if you don't have conviction in your pitches, you're going to get crushed. It's what happened to Andrew Painter in the first half of the season before he came back. If you don't believe, you've got to just like almost trick yourself as a pitcher.

Like these guys can't touch me today. It's why I think horses, you know, the aces of staffs, you know, like the old adage about shilling was he's a horse on game day and a horse's ass the other other days of the week. Well, it's just a different mentality. it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a great ones have the mentality of you can't touch me and when you when that is shaken a little bit I think that's when guys really struggle and really go through it so you know now that he's getting these results and and getting some swing and and looking the best he's looked in a couple years it's it's hard not to think that he his confidence is is certainly rolling right now uh Lewis is in west

Chester, what's happening, Lou? Not much, how are you? Good, what's going on? Not much. So what a great win for the Phil's. Very happy with that. And I was wondering, are you feeling like this team could maybe beat the Dodgers in like a postseason matchup?

What are your thoughts? Well, Lewis, I mean, I appreciate the phone call. It is, I would rather have to get the Dodgers in a five-game series than a seven-game series. The Dodgers have been a little fraudulent for a little while now. Offensive ranks have been in the middle of the pack since July 1, I think. And who knows what's going on with their owner?

They might have to sell. He might have to sell the team. We've got to monitor that situation. So I don't know. I still have this feeling as if the Dodgers, once October rolls around, they'll turn right back into the Dodgers. They struggled around this time last year and then got super hot once they got all the starters back and went and won the World Series.

So, but I would rather face them in a five-game set than a seven-game set. And, yeah, I mean, the old adage is that it's baseball. And this year, I think more than ever for me, all I want to do is make the playoffs and see what happens. I don't want to start thinking and dreaming about a World Series run if it happens great, but I just been heartbroken. 23, heartbreaking. Last year, heartbreaking.

I thought 24, I had a good feel of where that one was going to go. But I do not want to get ahead of myself. I just want to try to enjoy the ride as best as I can. Now, good night for the fails. Playoff-wise, Braves lose again. Four and a half out now. All of a sudden, I mean, it got up to what? Almost nine, at least eight and a half at one point.

So back down to four and a half. So that's a solid. Cubs lost to the White Sox today. So the Phillies are now four out from the top wildcard spot. Feels like we're just heading on a crash course for Cubs' Fills. Would prefer home field advantage for sure rather having to go to Wrigley. So still taking down the Cubs or chasing down the Cubs would be important. Padres lose to the Mets, the resurgent Mets,

as the kids come up playing good baseball, Kodi Isanga going to the Closers role. It looks like a totally different pitcher. So they are two up on the Padres now, and the D-backs win, so they are three up on them. So a overall good night for the Phillies and their playoff chances and playoff scenarios. Well, that's going to do it for me. No game tomorrow night. So we are back in action on Friday against the Cardinals.

Looking forward to that. Vani produced the program tonight. Jody Mack is next. He'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.