Since Aaron Nola made his major-league debut on July 21, 2015, no one has taken the ball more for one team than Nola has for the Phillies .

The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft out of LSU, Nola has started 285 regular-season games and 10 postseason games in the last decade. He has never pitched out of the bullpen.

Those two facts together explain why Nola and not Ranger Suarez will take the ball for the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers two games to none. Despite his struggles this season – Nola had a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts – manager Rob Thomson trusts Nola and his long resume.

Thomson wanted to use Nola but didn't want to feature him in relief for the first time in an elimination game. So, it will Nola first as the star

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