The Philadelphia Phillies are heating up at just the right time. Since Don Mattingly took the helm as manager, the team has won six of their last seven games—and Monday night's performance against the Miami Marlins was a perfect example of why the change in leadership is working.

Sometimes, all a talented team needs is a fresh perspective. The Phillies have never lacked for star power, boasting some of the best hitters in the league. But a new manager can reignite a locker room, and Mattingly is doing exactly that by recognizing and celebrating his players' successes.

On Monday, that success belonged to starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who delivered what Mattingly called "a masterclass" in the Phillies' 1-0 victory over the Marlins. Nola pitched six strong innings, striking out five batters on 94 pitches while allowing just five hits. It was easily his best start of the season.

"That was a masterclass tonight," Mattingly said in his post-game interview, before elaborating on everything the veteran pitcher did well. He concluded by noting that Monday's performance is exactly what Nola is capable of delivering.

The win was a welcome turnaround for Nola, who had a rocky start to the season. Before Monday, he had given up at least three runs in five of his six appearances. This victory marked his second win of the season, following a similar strong outing against the Colorado Rockies in early April.

If this is a preview of what's to come, the Phillies could finally become the World Series contenders many expected them to be at the start of the season. With Mattingly's leadership and Nola finding his groove, Philadelphia's rotation is looking more formidable by the day. For a team that's been searching for consistency, this might be the spark they needed.