Texas Rangers forced to scratch Nathan Eovaldi from Monday start
Nathan Eovaldi beat the Yankees in consecutive starts for the Texas Rangers, but he was scratched from the opener against the Diamondbacks with left side discomfort (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images). The Texas Rangers made a surprising announcement Monday afternoon: Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi would not pitch because of discomfort in his left side. ARLINGTON — Nathan Eovaldi will not start for the Texas Rangers on Monday night after complaining of discomfort in his left side shortly after arriving at Globe Life Field for the opener of a three-game series against Arizona.
The Rangers selected right-hander Jakob Junis to start the game as an opener, and manager Skip Schumaker said he will likely treat the situation as a more traditional bullpen game rather than using a bulk pitcher behind Junis. Eovaldi was sent for an MRI exam, the results of which are pending. “It didn’t feel real smart sending him out there,” Schumaker said.
“You never want to hear left-side anything from anybody. So, we’ll find out when the imaging comes. I don’t want to guess what it is.
” Eovaldi is 4-4 with a 4. 15 ERA this season, numbers that were buoyed by his last two starts. He allowed only one run in 15 innings against the Yankees and delivered for the Rangers their only win in each three-game series.
After allowing 11 runs in his first two starts of the season, Eovaldi has a 2. 54 ERA in his past six starts . Junis has been a starter or swing man for most of his career, and last season was the first of his career in which he didn’t make a start.