The Texas Rangers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon at 4:05 p.m. ET, but there’s been a major change on the lineup card with a few hours to go until first pitch.
Star RHP Nathan Eovaldi has been scratched from Saturday’s scheduled start due to left knee soreness.
In his place, LHP MacKenzie Gore will start for the Rangers.
Eovaldi was incredible last season, but 2026 has not been as kind to him. He’s started 14 games and missed another couple due to injury. When healthy, he’s delivered a 1.17 WHIP but his ERA has ticked down to 4.23 after a stellar 1.73 last season. However, he does have a respectable 83 strikeouts across 87.1 IP.
The regression has been surprising after looking like one of the best pitchers in the MLB last year. Eovaldi is still generating elite chase and whiff rates with an excellent 5.8% BB%, also forcing more ground balls than the average arm. He’s given up barrels at a much higher rate though, and a 4.41 xERA and .254 xBA show that perhaps he was due to come back to earth.
Texas has a 36-39 record on the year but remains firmly in the AL West mix at just two games shy of first place.
Stay tuned to DK Network for more updates as they become available.
