Texas Rangers’ right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is set to make his third start since returning from nearly a month sidelined with right triceps tightness. On Tuesday night, he will face the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., aiming to continue his impressive Nathan Eovaldi Rangers comeback. The Rangers look to recover from a narrow 6-5 walk-off loss to the Angels the previous evening.
Details of Eovaldi’s Recovery and Recent Performances
Eovaldi was placed on the injured list on May 29 and made his way back to the active roster on June 27 without appearing in any rehab games. Instead, he prepared through live batting practice sessions. His first outing post-recovery came against Seattle on June 27, where he pitched three innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with two walks and two strikeouts, throwing a total of 45 pitches.
Following that, Eovaldi improved significantly in a 6-0 triumph over Baltimore, delivering five innings with only two hits allowed, one walk, and five strikeouts. Over 72 pitches that outing, 50 were strikes, lowering his earned run average (ERA) to an impressive 1.75 across 77⅓ innings pitched. This is the second-lowest ERA through a pitcher’s first 14 starts of a season in Washington/Texas history, trailing only Rick Honeycutt’s 1.49 mark set in 1983.
I felt strong toward the end. I made a few mechanical adjustments from the last outing … and I felt like they helped out a lot. The first game back, I just felt out like I was out of sync with my mechanics. I had a little more wiggle room today, and being able to go out there and go a little deeper was because my mechanics were on point.
—Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers pitcher
Eovaldi’s History Against the Angels and Upcoming Challenge
Throughout his career, Eovaldi has been notably effective against the Angels. He holds a 5-3 record with a 3.47 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. His performance is even stronger in Anaheim, boasting a 4-2 record with a 2.82 ERA over seven starts. Notably, he closed out the 2024 season with a dominant showing there on September 29, allowing just four hits and striking out five over seven innings in an 8-0 victory.
The Angels will respond with right-hander Jose Soriano, who carries a 6-5 record and a 3.72 ERA this season. Soriano, fresh off a powerful 5-1 road win against the Atlanta Braves, pitched seven shutout innings, surrendering three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Although Soriano has limited experience against Texas, appearing in four games (two starts), he maintains a respectable 2.35 ERA in those contests.
Walk-Off Drama Highlights Angels’ Victory in Series Opener
In the first game of the four-match series on Monday night, the Angels secured a walk-off win against the Rangers. Nolan Schanuel delivered the decisive blow by driving in Luis Rengifo with a bases-loaded walk off reliever Hoby Milner. Schanuel nearly ended the game earlier in the at-bat with a hard line drive narrowly fouling down the right field line, before coming back from an 0-2 count to connect on a 3-2 sinker well outside the strike zone for the walk-off.
This marked Schanuel’s second career walk-off contribution, following a walk-off single on June 10 that clinched a 2-1 victory over the Athletics in extra innings. The Angels recorded their fifth walk-off victory of the 2024 season, breaking a three-game losing skid that included all closely contested, one-run losses to the Toronto Blue Jays.
To get a win like this, on the first day back of the series, it’s awesome,
—Nolan Schanuel, Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Outlook for Rangers and Eovaldi’s Continued Impact
Nathan Eovaldi’s return bolsters the Rangers’ pitching rotation at a critical time as they prepare to face a formidable Angels lineup in Anaheim. His ability to adjust mechanics and regain strength after injury is evident in his recent outings, demonstrating resilience and focus. As Eovaldi continues pitching at a high level, Texas hopes to flip the momentum in this series and build on their competitive edge.
With Eovaldi set to take the mound again and the Rangers eager to recover from Monday’s walk-off defeat, Tuesday’s game promises to be a hard-fought contest. The ongoing Nathan Eovaldi Rangers comeback story is one of determination and skill, potentially shaping the team’s trajectory in the weeks ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How many surgeries has Nathan Eovaldi had?
A. MLB Update: Nathan Eovaldi, who has undergone two Tommy John surgeries, anticipates great performance from Chris Sale immediately.
Q. Is Nathan Eovaldi an ace?
A. Eovaldi led the Rangers’ pitching team in the 2023 playoffs. He won 5 out of his 6 starts, with one no decision in the first game of the World Series.
Q. How fast is Nathan Eovaldi’s fastball?
A. He uses five types of pitches. The chart shows where each of his pitches lands and a zone chart highlights where they are most common. These are locations for his 4-Seam Fastballs, which he throws at an average speed of 94.0 MPH and can reach up to 97.6 MPH.