The Texas Rangers are preparing for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to step onto the mound for live batting practice in the upcoming week, as indicated by manager Bruce Bochy.
Nathan Eovaldi recently completed a 40-pitch bullpen session at Globe Life Field on Friday, and it was a success, with no reported concerns arising from the session. This development paves the way for Eovaldi to face live hitters as the Rangers embark on their forthcoming three-city, nine-game road trip.
Bochy affirmed, “All good. He’s making progress.” The term “progress” has been closely associated with Eovaldi’s recovery for over a week.
In a previous bullpen session that simulated two innings’ worth of action, Eovaldi emerged without any complications. This followed two bullpen sessions conducted while the Rangers were on the road in Oakland and San Francisco the previous week.
Considering that the live batting practice proceeds as planned, what’s the next step? This could be a pivotal decision point for Eovaldi. However, Bochy emphasizes that it’s not only about how Eovaldi performs during the bullpen session but also about how he feels the day after.
In essence, the absence of setbacks has been a positive feature of Eovaldi’s rehabilitation process up until now. The options ahead encompass a potential rehab assignment, additional batting practice, or activating Eovaldi on the active roster while gradually increasing his workload.
Bochy expressed, “Yeah, we’ll see how it goes. Whether he goes down, whether he does (batting practice) again, we’ll see what happens.”
Given the impressive performance of the Rangers’ pitching in August, the team is afforded the luxury of adopting a cautious approach with Eovaldi. The acquisitions of Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery have significantly bolstered the rotation, leading to a stellar 10-2 record and an MLB-best 2.28 ERA in August. This surge has lowered the team’s season ERA from 3.88 to 3.66, now ranking as the lowest in the league. Additionally, the Rangers have registered quality starts in eight of their last ten games, with an MLB-leading total of 12 quality starts this month.
Eovaldi’s forearm strain prompted his placement on the injured list on July 30. Prior to that, the Rangers had elected to skip his start during a series against Houston, aiming to provide him with extended rest.
Eovaldi’s sole start following the All-Star break saw him pitch six shutout innings on July 18, clinching a victory against Tampa Bay at Globe Life Field. This season, Eovaldi boasts an 11-3 record accompanied by an impressive 2.69 ERA.