The Rangers rotation coming into the year was looked at being the strength of the team after trading for MacKenzie Gore and they have done that. The pitching of the Rangers comes in at fifth in the entire league with a 3.58 ERA. Despite that, it has not been smooth sailing at times for the Rangers pitchers. A guy who has had his ups and downs is Nathan Eovaldi.
If there is one thing that Eovaldi has been over the last few years for the Rangers, it has been consistent. He has been a workhorse for the Rangers and one of the best free agent moves that they have ever made. He helped lead them to a World Series in 2023 However, it looked like Father Time was catching up to him.
After a Rocky Start, Nathan Eovaldi Has Found His Form
The Inconsistencies
He got hit hard in his first two starts against the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles allowing 11 runs in 8 and 2/3 innings. He failed to go deep into either game or gave up a lot of hard contact. Both of these are very unlike him; he has been a guy that eats innings and gives up a lot of soft contact when hitters make contact.
He started to right the ship in his next three starts with only four runs allowed and 17 strikeouts.
Yet, he got hit hard again in his next start against the A’s, a team that he had dominated throughout his career, giving up six runs in six innings. While he put together some good starts, there were still games when he would get blown up. That is not what the Rangers needed from one of their co-aces especially with how much their offense has struggled.
Righting the Ship
Eovaldi heard the call and delivered. In his last three starts against the Yankees twice and the Astros, he only allowed one run while going 22 innings. That is nothing to scoff at as the Yankees are the best offense in the league while the Astros are the sixth best.
The biggest thing that has worked in his favor is limiting the extra base hits. In these starts, he has only allowed two extra base hits. Only one home run with that coming courtesy of Aaron Judge. That is good for a 0.41 ERA in that stretch.
The Rangers have needed this with the offense getting off to a slow start ranking in the bottom ten in most major offensive stats. They have won all three of these starts and those have been big as they sit just one game back of the AL West lead.
The Last Word
Eovaldi did get off to a rocky start of his season, but as of late he has looked more like the pitcher that the Rangers need. The Rangers can make more noise with Eovaldi looking like himself and are hoping that the rest of the pitching staff will follow suit.
The team is still in the hunt for the playoffs and the division, so if they have Eovaldi pitching like this, then they will be in good shape.
Main Photo Credits: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
