Nathan Eovaldi threw close to 40 pitches during a Saturday bullpen session, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told reporters (including Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News) today. A live bullpen session is expected to come within the next few days, and it could be that Eovaldi continues in some kind of limited role once he is activated from the 15-day injured list.
“It’s just really challenging to think we’re getting six innings out of him,” Schumaker said, pointing to the limited amount of time remaining in the regular season. Eovaldi last pitched on August 7 before he was sidelined by right posterior elbow inflammation, and a month-long IL stint for a starter usually requires a rehab start or two to fully rebuild arm strength.
The Rangers may simply not that have luxury with just three weeks left in the regular season, and the team still trying to make the playoffs. Today’s 8-6 win over the Rays improved the Rangers’ record to 71-73, keeping Texas two games behind the Astros for first place in the AL West and two games behind the Guardians for the last AL wild card slot.
While the Rangers aren’t going to rush Eovaldi due to the risk of further injury, the play seems to be to use Eovaldi as a bulk pitcher or as a limited-innings starter, so he can rebuild his arm while also helping the club at the big league level. Eovaldi is on board for all options, telling McFarland that “I feel my best usage would be out of the pen. Again, I don’t know how they want to manage it, but I possibly could squeeze in two starts at maybe four or five innings as opposed to pitching effectively and helping bridge to get to where we need to be.”
As much as missing Eovaldi hampers the rotation, McFarland notes that the struggling middle relief mix could greatly improve if Eovaldi is suddenly included in this role. It’s all part of the all-hands-on-deck approach the Rangers are adopting as they chase a playoff berth, and Kyle Higashioka may also be included in this picture as he begins a minor league rehab assignment.
The veteran catcher hasn’t played since July 20 due to a flexor strain in his throwing arm, and MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry writes that the injury will limit Higashioka to just pinch-hit or DH duty once he returns to the Texas roster. The right-handed hitting Higashioka has a solid .841 OPS in the small sample of 54 plate appearances against southpaws this season, but a more modest .725 OPS against left-handed pitching over his 10 Major League seasons.
Joc Pederson is the Rangers’ DH against right-handed pitchers, and Higashioka has logged a few appearances already this season as part of the long list of pinch-hit or platoon options Texas has used to shield Pederson from southpaws. Behind the plate, the Rangers have Elias Diaz, Danny Jansen, and Logan O’Hoppe available to catch, and O’Hoppe will probably be the odd man out once Higashioka is back.
In other injury news, Landry writes that Josh Jung has been participating in all baseball activities except running the bases, and Jung will have a live batting practice session with the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate on Monday. A rehab assignment is expected to follow, so Jung could conceivably be activated from the 10-day IL by next weekend. A right calf strain has kept Jung out of action since July 21, interrupting a very impressive season that saw the third baseman hit .294/.361/.441 with nine homers in his first 396 PA.
Jack Leiter will head to the Rangers’ Spring Training facility tomorrow to continue his injury rehab, and Leiter told McFarland today that his surgically-repaired ankle “continues to trend in the right direction.” It has been over a week since Leiter’s minor league rehab assignment was paused due to biceps soreness, leaving it unclear if the right-hander will be able to pitch again this season. Leiter hasn’t pitched in a MLB game since June, so Schumaker said that Leiter will certainly have to work out of the bullpen if he is able to return.
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