Nola was spectacular against the Reds on Wednesday, striking out eight without a walk while allowing just a run on four hits over seven innings, only to see new closer Dalier Hinojosa blow his win in the ninth inning.
He was right on point, throwing an impressive 73 of 95 pitches for strikes, but this could be a storyline that repeats itself a number of times this year. Although Nola's already the de facto ace of this team after a strong MLB debut in 2015, he'll have to deal with a subpar offense and bullpen all season long. The 22-year-old is a good bet to turn in solid ratios, but it'll be a challenge to rack up many wins.