Freshman pitcher Aaron Nola will not start this weekend against No. 1 Florida as he recovers from muscle fatigue in his throwing shoulder.
Nola will rest for three or four days before traveling with the team to Gainesville, Fla., for a three-game series with the Gators starting Thursday. Nola will undergo a throwing workout Thursday and determine if his shoulder is healthy enough to appear out of the bullpen on Saturday.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said it was doubtful he would pitch this weekend but that Nola should return to full strength to start against Alabama next weekend.
“Even though we’re not going to have him in his role for the Florida series,” Mainieri said, “the news could have been a lot worse. Well just deal with it and make do this coming weekend without him.”
Sophomore pitcher Kurt McCune, who Nola replaced in the weekend rotation, will start in Nola’s place on Thursday. Sophomore pitchers Kevin Gausman and Ryan Eades will follow their normal routines and start Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Nola was removed from Sunday’s game against Arkansas after he experienced sharp pain in his right shoulder. Nola met with an orthopedist Monday who said he suffered no structural damage. Nola struck out a career-high nine batters in 6 1/3 innings before leaving the game.
“The fact that he’s a freshman and his body is still growing, it taxed him,” Mainieri said. “I wish I had hooked him after the sixth inning, but there was no sign whatsoever that he was under duress.” 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]