Eovaldi finds rhythm in first start since All-Star break

ARLINGTON -- Nathan Eovaldi and Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. battled through an eight-pitch at-bat.

Eovaldi had allowed a leadoff single and a walk in the fifth inning and a wild pitch to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Atlanta’s biggest threat. Finally, on the eighth pitch, Eovaldi threw a devastating splitter just outside the zone, striking out Acuña on a foul tip to end the inning and the threat.

That would be the final batter of Eovaldi’s night, as he calmly walked toward the Rangers’ dugout. His five scoreless innings lowered his ERA down to 1.50 in 96 innings this season. His efforts powered the Rangers to a 8-3 series-opening win over the Braves on Friday night.

“It wasn't pretty, but we were able to make it work where we could,” Eovaldi said. “Double play ball in one situation, a couple big strikeouts. I'm not really sure what was going on out there. Mechanically, I felt like I was all over the place.”

Eovaldi wasn’t his sharpest, and worked through a lot of traffic with three hits and four walks. But locked in when he needed to, collecting seven strikeouts, five of which came with runners on base. The Acuña at-bat was the perfect example of that.

He ultimately held Braves hitters 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, his most hitless at-bats in that situation in a single game since April 18, 2023 at Kansas City (0-for-8). Tonight also signified the eighth time this season that an Eovaldi outing began with five scoreless innings which is tied for third in the AL at the conclusion of Friday night's game (11-Skubal, 9-Bubic, 8-Eovaldi/Brown/Rodón).

“He looked like he was kind of battling himself out there, but he made pitches when he needed to,” said catcher Jonah Heim. “That's what he does. When he doesn't have his A+ stuff, he finds a way to get it done. He got through five scoreless and handed it off to our bullpen. Sometimes, you just gotta deal with what you got on the mound. And I thought he did a great job navigating that lineup.”

Eovaldi had been scratched from his last start -- which was scheduled for July 20 against the Tigers -- due to back tightness coming out of the All-Star break. In the first half, the right-hander posted a 1.58 ERA in 91 innings, though he was on the injured list from June 1-27 with triceps inflammation.

He finally kicked off his second half with the same steady presence as he did in the first.

“I think that's just the kind of pitcher he is,” Heim said. “He's proven his whole career that he's going to give you innings, and he's going to give really good innings. When he's on his A-game, he's one of the best in the game. Our starting rotation has been outstanding and every time he takes the mound, he gives us a chance to win. That's all you can really ask of him.”

Rangers starters have now worked at least five scoreless innings with two or fewer runs allowed in nine consecutive games dating back to before the All-Star break. It’s the rotation’s longest such streak since a 10-game run from May 19-29, 2023.

Texas has outscored opponents 30-11 since the All-Star break, now sitting at 6-1 in the return. As the Trade Deadline looms and the club sits just one-half game back of a Wild Card spot, things seem to be clicking at just the right time.

“Every win down the road matters right now,” Eovaldi said. “We know how we started out. We know we weren't playing our best baseball. We're playing better now, and we got to keep everything rolling. I think the starters feed off of each other. We go out there and you set the tone and the bullpen has been great for us. We’re just trying to keep the score in our favor and let the offense do their thing.”