PHOENIX — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker will use Nathan Eovaldi out of the bullpen, and he could use him as soon as Saturday night. The Texas Rangers activated the right-hander off the 15-day injured list hours before playing the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Schumaker told Rangers Sports Network the job will look different every day.
“I think you’ll see him out of the bullpen,” Schumaker said. “Other than that, I think you’ll have to watch it and see exactly how we use him because I think it’s going to be different daily. It could be either opener, it could be leverage out of the pen, it could be multiple innings. It’s just kind of we’ll see how the game goes and then how we’re going to use him is going to be dictated on how he feels after pitching one or two innings, his availability, and then kind of watch and see how he does.”
Schumaker has not announced a starter for Sunday.
“He’s on the card, so he’s available today,” Schumaker explained. “And then we’ll worry about tomorrow, but he’ll be available today.”
Nathan Eovaldi Comes Back From Elbow Inflammation
Eovaldi last pitched Aug. 7 and beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 at home, working 5.1 innings and giving up four hits and one earned run with two walks and two strikeouts. He landed on the injured list three days later with right posterior elbow inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 9.
He is 10-9 across 22 starts with a 4.21 ERA, 137 strikeouts, and a 1.206 WHIP over 132.2 innings. He has served up 24 home runs after allowing 10 in 130.0 innings last season.
Texas skipped the minor league rehab assignment and built him back on live batting practice, the last session about 30 pitches on Sept. 8.
Eovaldi told Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News he sees relief as where he helps most.
“I don’t know how they want to manage it, but I possibly could squeeze in two starts at maybe four or five innings as opposed to pitching effectively and helping bridge to get to where we need to be,” Eovaldi said.
The Bullpen He Joins
Texas sent left-hander Adam Macko to Triple-A Round Rock to open the spot, and catcher Logan O’Hoppe went with him so Josh Jung could come off the injured list too. Both clubs went to 28 players on Sept. 1, when the pitcher limit moved from 13 to 14.
Jacob Latz has closed all year and has 28 saves with a 1.85 ERA over 51 appearances. Jakob Junis carries a 3.47 ERA through 47 games, and he gave up four runs in Thursday’s seventh inning at Seattle without getting anybody out.
Kumar Rocker starts Saturday, which leaves Eovaldi behind him in whatever role the game calls for. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
