Mick Abel joined the Phillies for one start last month when Aaron Nola went on the IL. The 23-year-old was told that good or bad, the promotion was for one game only and the Phillies stuck to that plan and inserted Taijuan Walker into that slot in the rotation. The outing was better than good – 6 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K – and the Phillies have now decided to bring Abel back to the majors as they reorganize their pitching staff.

Abel not only pitched well with the Phillies, but has had continued success at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In two starts since his return Abel has allowed just one run in 10.2 innings for a 0.84 ERA. Overall with Lehigh Valley, the right-hander is 6-2, 2.21 in 10 starts with the IronPigs.

The move allows the Phillies to put Walker back into the bullpen where they plan on grooming him for a late inning role. They believe that he has the potential to prosper in that role by being able to get a little more velocity. Success for Walker would give the Phillies help in patching up the back of the bullpen that has been hit by the suspension of Jose Alvarado by Major League Baseball.

Another shift in the starting rotation was announced Monday when the Phillies decided to not have Zack Wheeler start the opening game in Toronto. Wheeler’s wife, Dominique, is expecting to deliver the couple’s fourth child at any moment so the Phillies are planning ahead and took Wheeler out of the rotation for the Toronto series and have not announced their rotation yet for the following series in Pittsburgh. The Phillies will throw Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 3.32), Abel (1-0, 0.00), and Jesus Luzardo (5-1, 3.58) against the Blue Jays.

As for Nola, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski recently spoke with Joel Sherman of the New York Post about Nola’s injury and the fact that the initial injury was worse than first thought. “The reality is, it was hurt a little bit worse than what we thought and what Aaron thought too. He’s getting better daily. It’s not like, it’s an imminent return. He could, I think, return on the 30th this Friday. It won’t be then, but I don’t think he’s far behind that, and I do think he’ll continue to pitch very well for us.” In stating that he could have returned on the 30th, Dombrowski was speaking in terms of when he was eligible to come off the IL.

Nola threw a bullpen session Sunday in Philadelphia with good results and there were no problems reported following the outing. It’s likely that Nola will throw at least one more bullpen session and then make at least one rehab start prior to being activated and returning to the rotation.