To no surprise, Phillies manager Joe Girardi officially named Aaron Nola the starter for the season opener on April 1 against the Atlanta Braves on Monday. Zack Wheeler was also named the starter for the second game of the 2021 campaign. Nola will also start Monday night’s spring training game against the Yankees in Tampa.
“Aaron probably knew it anyway,” Girardi said on Monday. “just the way everything aligns. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out when you start getting in your rotation how it lines up.