Rangers turn to MacKenzie Gore with season on the line following vintage Nathan Eovaldi performance

One of the reasons why Nathan Eovaldi was able to return from the IL as quickly as he did was the fact that the Texas Rangers were going to use him out of the bullpen. Without having to put in the work to build up his arm for a starter's workload, the 36-year-old was able to return for the final playoff push.

However, with the rotation battered and bruised, Skip Schumaker had no other choice but to turn to "Big Game Nate" on Saturday in a do-or-die game. The risk was huge. Eovaldi had spun some magic with four scoreless innings out of the pen on September 16 against the Boston Red Sox, but he's turned in a few duds since coming back, too.

How deep he'd be able to go in yesterday's start was a huge question mark, but he turned in 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball, tossing 71 pitches. It was about the best one could have expected out of the veteran right-hander, who was starting his first game since August 7.

Texas's lineup showed up to take the pressure off him, as well. The Rangers jumped on Minnesota Twins starter Bailey Ober, scoring all six of their runs off the six-foot-nine right-hander. Most importantly, the bottom of the order showed out, with the 7-8-9 hitters going 5-for-6 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs. Jake Burger would tack on an insurance run with a long home run to dead center.

A parade of Rangers relievers: Robert Garcia, Jakob Junis, Tyler Alexander, and Jacob Latz combined for 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one run to secure the 6-2 victory and keep the Rangers' playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, the Astros crushed the Athletics by a score of 13-2, meaning the battle for the division crown will come down to Game 162.

Rangers will hand the ball to MacKenzie Gore with everything on the line

Unfortunately, Texas still does not control its own destiny. The final game of the season will require both the Rangers to win and Houston to lose in order to see playoff baseball come to Arlington.

Without any other options, Schumaker is turning to a banged-up MacKenzie Gore to start this afternoon with it all on the line. Gore was pretty good, allowing just one run over five innings during his last start on September 22 against the Mets, but he's clearly not 100% and has been maddeningly inconsistent all year long. His 4.59 ERA is the fifth-worst mark among qualified starters this season.

However, if he shows up big today, all will be forgiven, and the narrative surrounding his acquisition will change, at least temporarily. Thriving when the spotlight is brightest is why Chris Young brought him in, so now it's time to get the job done.

As bad as the Rangers' rotation situation is, the Astros' is worse. Houston only has four healthy starters and will be forced to turn to starting Peter Lambert on short rest.

Lambert has been surprisingly good for the Astros this season as a minor league free-agent signing, trying to revitalize his career after flaming out in Colorado with the Rockies and going over to Japan last year for a reset in the NPB. However, he's getting the all today mostly because he only threw 62 pitches on Thursday as the A's jumped all over him and chased him after allowing four earned runs over 2 2/3 innings.

The scene is set for Gore, and he can either be a Rangers hero or villain. While what happens isn't entirely in Texas's control, the club is presented with the best-possible scenario, with the Astros grasping at straws to find a starter. It's do-or-die time, and the way today turns out could have massive implications for the Rangers' offseason plans.

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