The Philadelphia Phillies know that every game is a little more important down the stretch of the season, and different players are going to have to show up when it matters. That's what happened in their latest win against the New York Mets, where Aaron Nola came alive for the team.

He allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings, and with the win, the Phillies are now even with the Chicago Cubs for the No. 1 NL Wild Card spot with nine games remaining.

There's no question that the last few months have been kind to Nola, as he has a 2.92 ERA in his past 14 starts, which includes two earned runs or fewer in eight straight starts.

“I think just mixing well and throwing all the pitches for strikes, and just trying to keep everything sharp and [my] delivery sharp,” Nola said via Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. “Just taking it hitter by hitter and game by game. Try not to be too perfect with my pitches, make sure my weeks are good, my body's healthy, the bullpen sessions are good and just to be prepared as best as I can going into each start.”

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The Phillies might need Nola when the Wild Card series starts, especially with Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left shoulder. There's uncertainty about when he'll be back on the field, which makes Nola stepping up an important moment for the Phillies moving forward.

“Now you just kind of count on him doing that,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s gotten to that point, you know?”

If Nola can keep up his level of play, the Phillies shouldn't have much to worry about what happens in a potential Wild Card series.