Phillies get an encouraging performance from Aaron Nola in a victory over the Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — During his season-opening slide, Aaron Nola focused on his work. Everything that made the right-hander one of the most dependable pitchers in the National League.

Nola — and the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies — felt it would turn around eventually.

It sure looked as if he was on the right track Sunday night, when he pitched seven crisp innings to help Philadelphia to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

“He was back to his old self,” Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said. “So he's going to be good for us. I'm not worried about him at all.”

Nola allowed one run and three hits in his longest outing of the season. He struck out six and walked one while throwing 73 of his 99 pitches for strikes.

He received a no-decision — the Phillies pushed across two runs in the 10th for the win — but it was an encouraging turnaround after he dropped his first five starts of the year. He lowered his ERA from 6.43 to 5.40, and his WHIP dropped from 1.61 to 1.40.

“Everything felt good tonight,” Nola said. “Fastball felt good. Cutter felt really good. Happy to go deep in the game and give the guys a good chance to win.”

The 31-year-old Nola was 4-1 with a 3.20 ERA through six starts in 2024. He finished 14-8 with a 3.57 ERA, helping the Phillies win the NL East.

Nola, who agreed to a $172 million, seven-year contract with Philadelphia in February 2024, has stayed with his usual routine throughout his tough start to this year.

“Just got to keep working,” he said. “Have good work weeks. Have good bullpens, and just stay focused as much as I can and go out and compete.”

Going into the start at Chicago, Nola was averaging 91.1 mph on his four-seam fastball — down from 92.5 in 2024 and 92.7 in 2023 — but manager Rob Thomson said Nola has pitched in some tough weather conditions this year.

“Everybody talks about his velocity,” Thomson said before the game. “I don't concern myself really with his velocity, because he can pitch without being 94 if he's got his command. That's a thing that I look at. ... When he doesn't have his command, his Nola-like command, that's when he gets hurt.”

After issuing 11 walks in his first 28 innings, Nola had no problems with his command against the Cubs.

A return to form for Nola could provide a big lift for a Phillies team that has been hampered by a couple of injuries, including in the rotation.

Ranger Suárez, who opened the season on the injured list with lower back stiffness, pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two.

Thomson said he wasn't sure if Suárez would need another rehab start.

“We'll meet him in Philadelphia either tomorrow or Tuesday,” Thomson said.

While Suárez is nearing a return, Thomson said outfielder Brandon Marsh left Lehigh Valley's game because of a cramp in his right hamstring. The 27-year-old Marsh was placed on the 10-day IL last weekend because of a strained right hamstring.

Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who left Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the New York Mets because of left forearm tightness, threw a bullpen before the series finale against the Cubs.

“I haven't talked to him, but somebody said he felt great,” Thomson said. “We'll see. Really tomorrow is the day where you figure out where he's at.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Philadelphia Phillies' Aaron Nola pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Monday, April 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A day after an early stumble in the 1,000 meters, star speedskater Jordan Stolz was smooth and speedy enough in the 500 at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday, finishing first in 34.76 seconds.

He already was prequalified at that distance based on World Cup results and only needed to participate at the trials to make official his berth for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. That also was the case for the 1,000, the 1,500 scheduled for later Sunday and Monday's mass start.

Stolz shrugged about his 500 time, telling NBC that “usually I'd be much faster, but it's good for now, because I'm in training.”

His focus is on the Olympics themselves, not the trials, which are being held at the Pettit National Ice Center, about 40 minutes south of his hometown of Kewaskum.

In Saturday's 1,000, his first race and one in which he holds the world record, Stolz lost his footing right at the outset and fell to the ice, a stunning mistake. But he got right up and closed with the third-best time.

Cooper McLeod, who was second in the 1,000, was next in the 500, 0.06 seconds behind Stolz. While three U.S. men will get berths in the 1,000 in the Feb. 6-22 Olympics, Stolz is still the only one assured of a spot.

That's because there are other heats for the women’s and men’s 500 Monday, and each skater’s best time across the two days is what counts.

Erin Jackson, the reigning gold medalist in the women's 500, also already had prequalified and only needed to show up at the starting line in Milwaukee in that race. Like Stolz, she did far more than that, producing the fastest time Sunday by clocking 38.15 seconds — one day after winning the 1,000.

The American women have two spots in the Olympic 500 and the other will be settled Monday, the last day of the trials.

Sarah Warren was second-best among the women Sunday in 38.86.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Erin Jackson competes in the women's 500 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speed skating at the Pettit National Ice Center Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Jordan Stolz looks at his time after competing in the men's 500 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials for long track speed skating at the Pettit National Ice Center Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)