Aaron Nola Backed by Strong Second Half Despite MLB-Leading Home Run Woes

Aaron Nola has delivered a solid second-half performance for the Philadelphia Phillies, remaining a cornerstone of their rotation during a high-stakes division battle with the Braves. However, gopher balls continue to plague him, as his 34 home runs allowed are tied for the most in MLB. Statcast data suggests some bad luck at play, with an expected home run total of 27.3, partly exacerbated by pitching half his games in homer-friendly Citizens Bank Park.