Nathan Eovaldi's first Texas Rangers appearance since Aug. 7 did not come as a starter. Activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday with right posterior elbow inflammation, Eovaldi worked 2 2/3 innings of relief in a 6-2 win at Arizona, the Associated Press reported via NBC 5, pitching out of the bullpen for the first time since 2019.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Postins wrote that the Rangers could not send Eovaldi on a minor-league rehab assignment this late in September, so the club is building him up at the major-league level as a bulk reliever - a path similar to his 2023 return that eventually led into Texas' World Series run.
Saturday's outing, after a six-run fifth had opened a comfortable lead, was the soft landing that approach requires.
Why the role looks like this
Before the injury, Eovaldi was 10-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 22 starts, with 137 strikeouts and 32 walks, Sports Illustrated reported in its activation note. He threw two simulated games during the week, one reaching about 40 pitches. Without affiliate innings available on the calendar, multi-inning relief or an opener role is how Texas plans to stretch him.
The timing of Saturday's appearance mattered. Kumar Rocker started and held Arizona to one run over four innings with five strikeouts, per the AP. Once Wyatt Langford's leadoff homer in the fifth - his 17th - and a prolonged rally pushed Texas ahead, manager Chris Schumaker's staff could bring Eovaldi into a lower-leverage environment. He allowed one run on four hits and struck out two.
Sports Illustrated said that workload makes Eovaldi unavailable for Sunday's series finale against the Diamondbacks. With Monday a travel day, he could be lined up for multi-inning work Tuesday when Texas opens a nine-game homestand against the Boston Red Sox.
Roster math around the activation
Texas also activated third baseman Josh Jung from the 10-day injured list (left calf strain) and optioned catcher Logan O'Hoppe and right-hander Adam Macko to Triple-A Round Rock, Sports Illustrated reported. Jung started at third and batted third, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run in the same game.
