Rangers Face Major Challenge Replacing Injured Ace Nathan Eovaldi
With starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi sidelined due to a rotator cuff strain, the Texas Rangers are now facing the difficult task of filling his spot in the rotation — likely for the rest of the regular season.
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young shared the news with reporters on Tuesday. Eovaldi had just become eligible for the ERA title after his latest start on Friday and was having a dominant season, going 11-3 with a 1.73 ERA in 22 starts. He struck out 129 batters and walked only 21 over 130 innings, limiting opponents to a .194 batting average and posting an elite 0.85 WHIP.
His absence is a significant blow to both the team’s playoff hopes and his own Cy Young candidacy. Even more immediately, Eovaldi was scheduled to pitch in Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Rangers had yet to name a replacement, but there are a few potential short- and long-term options they could turn to — or possibly rotate between.
Kumar Rocker 
On paper, Rocker seems like the simplest replacement. He’s currently with Triple-A Round Rock, but there’s a complication. When Jacob deGrom’s start was skipped last week, Texas opted for Caleb Boushley instead of Rocker. According to The Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant, Rocker is currently stepping away from game action to work on his mechanics.
He hasn’t pitched since August 7, when he allowed five runs (including two homers) in 5.2 innings. His stats in Triple-A are promising — a 1-0 record with a 3.24 ERA in four starts. However, across all his time with the Rangers, he’s 4-5 with a 5.45 ERA in 17 starts. Unless his mechanics improve quickly, Rocker is unlikely to pitch on Wednesday, but he remains a possible September call-up.
Jacob Latz
Latz may be the most realistic option for Wednesday’s start. The lefty last appeared on August 20 against Kansas City, tossing 3.1 shutout innings while allowing just one hit and recording four strikeouts. He has started three games for the Rangers this season and has been solid in those outings, with a total of 14.1 innings, five earned runs, seven walks, and 14 strikeouts.
Manager Bruce Bochy previously said Latz has the potential to be a starter again, having started earlier in his minor league career before being moved to the bullpen. If he’s not used in relief on Tuesday night, he’s the likely candidate to take Eovaldi’s spot — and possibly stay in the rotation every fifth day.
Michael Plassmeyer
If Latz ends up pitching out of the bullpen on Tuesday, Plassmeyer could serve as a backup plan for Wednesday. The 28-year-old left-hander is one of the better remaining options at Triple-A. This season, he’s 6-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 25 appearances (14 starts), tallying 85 strikeouts and 32 walks across 90.2 innings. His lone MLB start came with the Phillies in 2023, where he gave up 10 runs (nine earned) in 3.2 innings.
Plassmeyer isn’t currently on the Rangers’ 40-man roster, so the team would need to make a roster move to bring him up. While not an ideal option, he’s a feasible short-term fill-in if other plans fall through.
With Eovaldi’s injury disrupting a key part of their rotation, the Rangers will need to get creative and possibly rely on a mix of pitchers down the stretch — starting with a crucial decision ahead of Wednesday’s game.
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