Phillies Go With Aaron Nola For World Series Game 1

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It's only fitting that the longest tenured Phillie, the most successful high draft pick in recent franchise history, the face of the team's lengthy rebuild, and the Opening Day starter for five years straight will get the ball for Game 1 of the World Series in Houston.

Aaron Nola will start Friday night against the Astros, confirmed rumors that had been swirling since Sunday night that manager Rob Thomson was leaning toward giving co-ace Zack Wheeler an extra day off. Wheeler, who started the deciding Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday afternoon, will have a full five days rest.

From the archives: Yes, He's That Good: Nola's Debut Marks New Era For Phillies

Wheeler was the Phillies Game 1 starter in all three of their postseason series. Nola, meanwhile, was the Game 2 starter in all three series. His last appearance against the Astros was the last time the Astros lost. It was Oct. 3, the day the Phillies clinched a postseason appearance. Nola was nearly perfect that fateful night. He entered the seventh inning without allowing a hit or a walk. He finished with 9 strikeouts over 6.2 shutout innings of 2-hit ball.

The Astros won the final two games of that series, the regular season finale, and have gone 7-0 on their playoff run since.

Nola struggled in his Game 2 appearance against the Padres, which the Phillies lost, but he was ace-like in his two previous matchups, shutting down the Cardinals in Game 2 of the Wild Card series and blanking the Braves in Game 2 of the Divisional Series.

Wheeler, meanwhile, has been all but unhittable in his four playoff appearances, with the Phillies winning all four games he started. He's thrown 25 and a third innings of 1.78 ERA ball with an overpowering 25 strikeouts.

Catch up on more Phillies coverage from their magic 2022 run to the World Series:

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• From $20 To $20K: Surreality Of Phillies World Series Ticket Prices
• Phillies Vs. Astros World Series Preview: Schedule, Tickets, Odds
• How Ruben Amaro Jr. Helped Build Phillies World Series Team
• Phillies 'Old School' Ball Bucks Trends Of Their Superteam Opponents
• Phillies Return To Houston For World Series, Where They've Won Before