ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Cal Quantrill has pitched like an ace since injuries to Jack Leiter and Nathan Eovaldi opened rotation spots.
Schumaker spoke after Quantrill allowed 2 singles and 2 walks over 7 scoreless innings in a 6-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night at Globe Life Field.
“Gosh, what he did in August and now what he’s doing the start of September with some pretty significant injuries with Jack [Leiter] and Evo [Eovaldi], and he has stepped right in and filled in the role like pretty much he is like an ace,” Schumaker said. “He’s pitched like an ace, and I don’t know what we’d be doing because he’s not only provided quality start after quality start, but he’s become like this innings eater as well, which has been huge.”
“And so, especially with some guys that haven’t provided some length, Cal has been kind of that guy that stops the bleeding and has provided that for us,” Schumaker continued. “So, yeah, even his losses, like the one that he lost in Milwaukee, he still had a quality start. So, yeah, he’s been excellent.”
Jack Leiter And Nathan Eovaldi On The Injured List
Leiter is on the 60-day injured list. He went 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA over 15 starts and 80 innings before landing there.
Eovaldi is on the 15-day injured list. He made 22 starts and posted a 4.21 ERA over 132 2/3 innings.
Cal Quantrill’s Route Into The Texas Rangers Rotation
Quantrill signed a minor league contract with Texas on Jan. 29 and opened the season at Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers selected his contract on April 15 and used him in long relief, then as a leverage arm out of the bullpen.
He has since made 11 starts. Quantrill entered Thursday with a 3.01 ERA over 28 appearances and 89 2/3 innings, and he improved to 7-5 with the win.
Since July 28 at Tampa Bay, Quantrill has a 1.25 ERA over 8 outings, 7 of them starts. Texas lost 6-1 and 5-3 at Milwaukee on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29 before winning the finale.
Quantrill was named the Rangers’ Player of the Month for August, an award voted on by the media members and broadcasters who cover the team on a regular basis. He posted a 1.45 ERA over 31 innings last month, and it was his first monthly award with Texas.
What Cal Quantrill’s Innings Mean For The Texas Rangers Bullpen
The seven innings kept the Rangers from using Jacob Latz. The left-hander has 28 saves and a 1.63 ERA over 49 appearances, and he was an All-Star this season.
Texas has used 34 different players on the mound this season. The bullpen carries a 4.36 ERA, which ranks 23rd in the majors, and the Rangers signed right-hander Trevor Williams to a major league contract on Sept. 1 after Washington released him.
Quantrill was the eighth overall pick by San Diego in the 2016 draft out of Stanford and debuted on May 1, 2019. He pitched for Cleveland from 2020 to 2023, Colorado in 2024, and Miami and Atlanta in 2025 before signing with Texas.
The Rangers are 70-71 and sit one-half game behind Cleveland for the American League’s final wild-card spot. Jacob deGrom is scheduled to start Saturday against the Rays.
Friday’s game is at 7:05 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field on Rangers Sports Network, with Williams lined up as the Rangers’ opener.
