WASHINGTON — Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that he will utilize 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 on Monday against the Mariners. The NL 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.
Phillies starters lead the majors with 687 1/3 innings pitched. Sánchez is up to 150 2/3 innings, a