Nathan Eovaldi injury might expose a problem Rangers would rather hide

Right when it was all seeming to start to click for Nathan Eovaldi, a big wrench got thrown in the side (literally) that caused the 36-year-old to miss his scheduled Monday start against Arizona. This is not great and if it's get any worse, the Texas Rangers might be staring down an impossible situation.

A pre-game scratch, Eovaldi woke up experiencing left side tightness prior to his scheduled start in Arlington. Right now he's considered day-to-day but if an IL stint is needed, Rangers' fans will need MacKenzie Gore to step up.

Exposure is either do-or-die for Rangers' Gore

Gore, 27, came to Texas in January facing some lofty expectations after being traded in a blockbuster deal that sent some of the Rangers top prospects, including their first round pick last season to Washington, D.C. in a 5-for-1 deal for the lefty.

A former first rounder himself, Gore is 2-3 with a 5.17 ERA, 48 strikeouts, 21 walks and a 1.40 WHIP in just over 40 innings of work. Without a doubt, not the best showing for the former Padres farmhand. Making matters worse, the prospects send to the Nationals all look to have promising futures one day.

Without a timetable for Eovaldi's return right now, outside of Jacob deGrom, a turnaround is much needed for Gore. Seen as a formidable rotation heading into 2026 is getting weaker and the desperation is growing.

It's hard to replace Eovaldi's production and they won't ask Gore to do such. All they want him to do is be the pitcher they believe he can. Get back to the version he was to kick off the season, when he won his first two starts and struck out 30 batters in 21 innings.

If Evo did need a longer stint away, in addition to deGrom, Gore, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter will be joined by a new arm. Some venture to say it will be David Davalillo, who is currently on the Rangers' 40-man roster. Although it will likely mean Cal Quantrill moving into rotation and a new bullpen arm being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock or getting reinstated from the injured list.

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