UPDATE: Eovaldi has officially been activated and will start Friday vs. the Seattle Mariners.
The Texas Rangers have placed Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list with a triceps injury. In addition, Codi Heuer was called up to the major leagues for the first time since 2021, and Kumar Rocker is being reintroduced to the starting rotation to replace Eovaldi. Tucker Barnhart was designated for assignment in the corresponding move to make room on the roster.
It has been a strong start to the season for Nathan Eovaldi. The two-time All-Star has made 12 starts this season and has posted a 1.56 ERA across 69.1 innings pitched. The 35-year-old has struck out 73 batters and has not given up more than three earned runs in a start this season.
The injury first popped up on Tuesday when he was forced to leave the matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays after just two innings pitched. Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that they planned to move Eovaldi back in the rotation due to his “tricep fatigue,” but Texas is now taking an even more cautious approach. There is no structural damage to the arm, and the expectation is that he will step right back into the rotation once he is eligible to return in mid-June.
Texas is off to a 28-31 start to the season and currently sits in third place in the American League West. After winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers failed to make the playoffs at all last season, posting a 78-84 record.
Texas currently holds +235 odds of making the playoffs this year on DraftKings Sportsbook, and Nathan Eovaldi sits fifth in AL Cy Young odds at +1500 odds.
