Nola will have to build back up after he resumes throwing, so he’s probably going to be out until after the All-Star break. Mick Abel will continue filling in for him for now, and while we’re not all that optimistic he’ll remain nearly this successful, those wanting to take a chance on him now have a good excuse to do so.

Nola’s upcoming live batting practice session, which was set for Thursday at the Rogers Centre, has been scrapped for precautionary reasons. Phillies manager Rob Thomson classified the side soreness as “very mild” in nature, but the club can’t really afford to take any chances and risk a full-blown oblique strain. The 32-year-old veteran righty should resume throwing in some capacity later this week. The setback pushes his return back even further, likely until at least late June.

It’s a significant step in the right direction as Nola works his way back from a sprained right ankle that he suffered back in mid-May. There isn’t an official timetable from the Phillies yet, but it seems like there’s a chance he’s ready to make a minor league rehab start by the middle of June.

Nola has yet to throw an actual full-fledged bullpen session since hitting the shelf back in mid-May with a sprained right ankle. There’s little incentive for the Phillies to rush the 31-year-old workhorse back at this stage of the year, so they’re presumably taking it slow and deliberately with his recovery process. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect Nola back until some time later in June given where his throwing program is at the moment. It’ll be Taijuan Walker continuing to take the ball in his place.