Nathan Eovaldi Scratched Hours Before Start, Rangers Awaiting Test Results on Left Side Tightness

The Rangers got bad news Monday night in Arlington, and the timing couldn't have been worse. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, one of Texas's most reliable arms, was pulled from his scheduled start against the Diamondbacks just three hours before first pitch because of left side tightness. Manager Skip Schumaker had to scramble, calling on right-handed reliever Jakob Junis to take the mound in what would become a bullpen game for the Rangers.

What Happened and What's Next

Eovaldi felt the tightness earlier in the day and underwent medical imaging to determine the severity. The Rangers were still awaiting results as of game time, with the organization trying to figure out what this means for the 36-year-old pitcher moving forward. It's the kind of uncertainty that keeps a manager up at night, especially when you're dealing with your ace.

This is a frustrating turn for a guy who was absolutely dealing. Coming into Monday, Eovaldi had reeled off back-to-back wins against the Yankees. In his last two starts, he limited New York to just one run while striking out 15 batters over 15 innings. Last Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, he went eight innings and allowed one run. Then on April 29 at home, he threw seven scoreless innings. That's the kind of form you need from your starter in May.

The Track Record That Makes This Concerning

Here's the thing that should worry Rangers fans: Eovaldi has a history of injury trouble. Last season, he went 11-3 with a career-best 1.73 ERA, but that came in just 22 starts. He missed most of June with elbow inflammation and didn't pitch after Aug. 22 because of a rotator cuff strain. He's a two-time All-Star, but durability has been an issue. So when a 36-year-old pitcher with that kind of injury resume suddenly feels tightness in his side and needs medical imaging, you hold your breath.

More Health Headaches in Arlington

Eovaldi isn't the only Ranger dealing with injuries right now. Second baseman Josh Smith is adding another problem to his growing list. Smith took over as the primary second baseman after Marcus Semien was traded during the offseason, but he's been dealing with a strained right glute and landed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 4. Now he's got wrist inflammation on top of that, and according to Schumaker, the wrist soreness will likely push back his return. He was eligible to come back Friday night before a series in Houston, but that timeline is now in question.

Before the injuries hit, Smith hadn't been putting up the numbers Texas needed anyway. He hit just .217 with no homers and six RBI in 31 games. His defense has been solid with a .977 fielding percentage, but two errors in 88 total chances. Still, the Rangers need him healthy and available. Losing two key players to health issues in the same week puts real pressure on the rest of the roster.

The Rangers will get through Monday night with Junis and their bullpen. But the real story is what those test results show for Eovaldi. That's the one everyone in Arlington is waiting to hear.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.