Opening Day nod: Former LSU star will take the mound in first 2020 game for Phillies

Former LSU RHP Aaron Nola has become a star with the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-handed hurler will be entering his sixth season with the big-league club this season.

In 2018, he was an All-Star, going 17-6 with an impressive 2.37 ERA and 224 strikeouts. He took a step back in 2019, going 12-7 with a 3.87 ERA, but he’s still a rising star.

For that reason, the Phillies announced on Monday that Nola would be their Opening Day starter when the shortened MLB season begins this week:

Opening Day will be Nola Day. #GeauxPhils pic.twitter.com/VluSLzCBuO

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 20, 2020

Games begin on Thursday, July 23, but Nola and the Phillies won’t begin their 2020 campaign until Friday, when they host the Miami Marlins.

Can Nola return to All-Star form in 2020? The Phillies will rely on him to anchor their starting rotation.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.