BREAKING: Texas Rangers Make Another Roster Move After Nathan Eovaldi Suffers Elbow Inflammation
The Texas Rangers have made another important roster adjustment after a fresh injury concern emerged involving veteran starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The club has placed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list because of inflammation in his right posterior elbow, with the move retroactive to August 9.
To fill Eovaldi’s spot, Texas recalled fellow right-handed pitcher Ben Peoples. The roster change comes at an important point in the season, with the Rangers competing closely for a playoff position and needing as much stability as possible from their starting rotation.
Eovaldi’s injury situation remains somewhat unclear at this stage. The veteran pitcher made his most recent start on Friday and worked 5 1/3 innings. Although his velocity was slightly lower than in his previous outing, there was no obvious indication during the game that he had suffered a significant injury.
Eovaldi averaged 92.9 miles per hour with his four-seam fastball during that start, compared with an average of 93.6 mph in his previous appearance. The difference is relatively small, but the subsequent diagnosis of elbow inflammation has naturally raised concerns about his condition.
It is possible that the inflammation developed during the game or became noticeable during a bullpen session between starts. The Rangers are expected to provide additional information as they evaluate the veteran pitcher and determine how long he might be unavailable.
The loss of Eovaldi is significant for Texas regardless of the eventual length of his absence. At 36 years old, he has continued to provide dependable performances at the major-league level. Through 132 2/3 innings this season, he has recorded a 4.21 ERA while maintaining several encouraging underlying numbers.
His 24.7 percent strikeout rate, 5.8 percent walk rate and 48.8 percent ground-ball rate have all been better than league average. One area that has caused problems, however, has been the long ball. Eovaldi has already surrendered 24 home runs this season, a career high.
Despite that issue, his overall underlying performance suggests that he has pitched better than his ERA might indicate. His 3.45 SIERA points toward a potentially stronger overall pitching profile, making his absence even more frustrating for the Rangers.
Texas will now have to determine how to cover Eovaldi’s rotation spot. Jacob deGrom, MacKenzie Gore, Kumar Rocker and Cody Bradford currently occupy four positions, leaving the club with a decision to make for the fifth spot.
Jack Leiter could eventually become an option, but he remains on the 60-day injured list and has not yet started a rehabilitation assignment. That means the Rangers will likely need an immediate internal solution.
Jordan Montgomery and Cal Quantrill could both receive consideration. Quantrill recently worked as a starter before moving into the bullpen, while Montgomery has just returned from the 60-day injured list following his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Montgomery was stretched out during his rehabilitation and recently threw four innings in long relief, making him a potentially useful option.
The timing of Eovaldi’s injury is particularly concerning because Texas is involved in a highly competitive playoff race. The Rangers entered this stretch with a 59-59 record, sitting just behind the Astros in the American League West while holding the final American League Wild Card position.
With several teams still competing for postseason places, even a short absence could make the Rangers’ path more difficult. A longer-term injury would be considerably more damaging.
Eovaldi is under contract through the 2027 season, which is also the final guaranteed year of Jacob deGrom’s deal. MacKenzie Gore is also approaching free agency after next season. That makes the Rangers’ starting rotation an especially important area for the organization.
For now, Texas will hope Eovaldi’s elbow inflammation proves manageable and that he can return after the minimum required time. However, until the club provides a clearer recovery timeline, his status will remain an important storyline for the Rangers and their playoff ambitions.
Leave a Reply