CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Aaron Nola has seen Zack Wheeler's newest weapon a few times this spring.

The pitch is a sweeper, and it might be a good one.

“I think he could just throw his fastball and get guys out,” Nola said, laughing. “That thing is going to be good because all of his pitches are good. He’s a pitcher that really doesn’t need to use a ton of it, right? Just because he’s so consistent with all his stuff, especially his fastball.”

Nola and Wheeler each threw six innings at the Phillies’ Carpenter Complex on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The Phils wanted each pitcher to get six ups and downs in a controlled environment, rather than risk a high-pitch inning in a Grapefruit League game. They will each make one more start before Opening Day.

On Friday, Nola is expected to be named the Opening Day starter against the Rangers at Globe Life Field on March 30. It would be his sixth consecutive season-opening start.

Wheeler would start Game 2, and then the home opener on April 6 at Citizens Bank Park.

This will be Nola’s and Wheeler’s fourth season together. Few starting pitching duos in Phillies history have been more consistent and effective. In fact, they are just the fifth duo for the Phils in the past 100 years to each post at least 2.2 WAR or better for three consecutive seasons, according to Baseball Reference.

They join Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee (2011-13), Chris Short and Larry Jackson (1968-70), Jim Bunning and Short (1964-67) and Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons (1952-54). That group includes two Hall of Famers (Bunning and Roberts) with a combined 34 All-Star appearances, one Cy Young Award, six top-five Cy Young finishes, five top-10 MVP finishes, one World Series MVP and one National League Championship Series MVP.

Nola and Wheeler hope to keep things going beyond this year, but Nola is a free agent after the season. The Phillies opened camp last month hoping to sign him to a contract extension before Opening Day, which is only nine days away.

Nola wants to get something done before Opening Day, otherwise he said last month he wants to wait until after the season to resume negotiations.

He said he does not want to be distracted.

“I haven’t really … my agents are handling that,” Nola said, asked about an update. “I’m just focusing on one more start [in Spring Training] and getting ready for the season and having a good season, and getting to where we want to get again.”

Ideally, the Phillies sign Nola, then begin thinking about Wheeler. He will become a free agent following the 2024 season.

“I've enjoyed pitching with him,” Wheeler said. “Good guy. Good clubhouse guy. Obviously, on the mound, he is what he is. He's one of the top pitchers in the game. He throws a lot of innings. Strikes a lot of guys out. 

“That's what you ask for. So, hopefully, we can see him in Phillies red a lot longer. Hopefully, we can get that done.”