PHILADELPHIA -- Not too long ago, Aaron Nola returning to form down the stretch might have been considered a luxury for the Phillies.

Now, it's almost a must.

Making just his second start following a three-month absence, Nola allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings in Saturday night’s 6-4 win over the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. He cruised through five innings before yielding a pair of solo homers in the sixth.

Still, it was a drastic improvement from last Sunday, when Nola allowed six runs and lasted just 2 1/3 innings -- tied for the earliest non-injury exit of his career -- against this same Nats team.

Nola's outing came just a few hours after the Phillies announced that ace Zack Wheeler will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing thoracic outlet

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