The Texas Rangers had to scramble just before first pitch Saturday when Nathan Eovaldi was scratched from his start against the San Diego Padres because of left knee soreness. Instead of the veteran right-hander, it was MacKenzie Gore who got the ball at Globe Life Field.
Eovaldi felt what the team called a little soreness in his left knee, and the decision came down close to game time. The Rangers originally had Gore lined up to pitch Sunday, but they moved him up a day to cover for Eovaldi. That leaves Sunday’s series finale without a declared starter, and no official word yet on whether Eovaldi might need a stint on the injured list.
The news first broke via Dallas Morning News beat writer Shawn McFarland on X, who noted the change and the immediate hole in the pitching schedule. “The Rangers have scratched Nathan Eovaldi with ‘a little’ left knee soreness,” McFarland posted. “Mackenzie Gore will start. Tomorrow is TBA.”
This isn’t the first health issue for the 36-year-old this season. Eovaldi missed a start back in May with left-side tightness, and while he returned and pitched fine for a stretch, this new knee issue is another interruption for a pitcher the Rangers lean on heavily. Through 14 starts, he’s 6-7 with a 4.23 ERA, 83 strikeouts, and a 1.17 WHIP over 87.1 innings — solid enough numbers, but below the higher bar he’s set in recent years.
What This Means for the Rotation
Texas entered Saturday at 36-39, still chasing the Mariners in the AL West. Every game matters for a club trying to close ground, and losing Eovaldi even for a start or two puts more pressure on a rotation that’s already had its share of inconsistency. The Rangers haven’t said whether an IL move is coming, but the uncertainty around Sunday’s starter is real.
For now, the approach seems to be caution over panic. The immediate task is managing Eovaldi’s knee while figuring out who pitches the series finale. That could mean a bullpen game or a call-up from the minors. The Rangers haven’t tipped their hand, and they probably won’t until they know more about Eovaldi’s status.
He’s been durable overall this season, but these little dings add up, especially for a pitcher at 36. The Rangers need his innings if they’re going to stay in the playoff picture, and right now they’re just trying to keep him on the mound without making things worse.
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