Aaron Nola hopes to retain consistency before all-star break

After missing the majority of May with a lower-back strain, Aaron Nola is finding his rhythm as the Phillies enter the all-star Break following Sunday's game.

Nola, who has pitched at least seven innings in his last three starts, will try for his fourth consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon against the Padres. The 24-year old threw a seven-inning shutout against the Pirates on Monday, allowing just four hits and striking out eight batters.

"I'm just trying to stick with my plan like I've done the past couple games," Nola said before Friday's game against the Padres. "Do what I've been doing, keep getting ahead of hitters and go into the all-star break with this start and a win."

After looking sharp on May 21 in his first start back from the disabled list, Nola was hit hard in subsequent losses against the Reds and Marlins. His shortest start of the year came on May 31 against Miami, scattering five runs on four hits in only three innings. Nola lasted a surprising 73 pitches in that outing.

Recently, however, the Phillies' most promising starter has rebounded to the relief of his manager. Pete Mackanin, along with other Phillies coaches and general manager Matt Klentak, held a meeting on Friday to evaluate first-half player performances. Mackanin noted Nola's resilience in his positive assessment of the young pitcher.

"He's pitching better," Mackanin said. "His velocity has increased, and he's simply locating the ball better in all of his pitches. I felt he was always in the plans, but he really rebounded from his problems extremely well."

Nola gave up just one run as he pitched into the eighth inning against the Cardinals on June 22. He followed that up with a season-high nine strikeouts in seven innings at Seattle. Monday's seven innings of shutout ball was Nola's first of the 2017 season.

Since his outing in Miami, Nola's ERA has steadily fallen from 5.06 to 3.73 ahead of Saturday's start. In his third major-league season, the righthander holds a 6-5 season record and 72/23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 starts this season.

The Phillies, meanwhile, have won only three times without Nola on the mound since his start on June 22 against St. Louis.

"I just had to stay healthy," Nola said. "I missed pretty much all of May. I needed to be efficient with my work in between starts. Just finding my balance in my delivery, getting into pitcher's counts is the key for me to get deep in games."

In his final start before the all-star break, Nola will match up with San Diego righthander Jhoulys Chacin at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday.