Why Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was a late scratch vs. Diamondbacks

The Texas Rangers received concerning news Monday afternoon prior to their matchup vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field, as veteran starter Nathan Eovaldi was scratched just hours before first pitch because of left-side tightness.

The Rangers entered the series opener trailing the first-place Athletics by two games in the American League West standings, making the three-game series with Arizona increasingly important early in the division race. However, Eovaldi’s late scratch forced Texas to quickly reshuffle its pitching plans, with Jakob Junis stepping into an opener role as the club prepared for a bullpen game.

The veteran right-hander entered the scheduled start in strong form despite his overall season numbers. Eovaldi carried a 4-4 record and a 4.15 ERA into Monday’s matchup, but he had looked dominant in recent outings. Across his previous two appearances, he posted a 0.60 ERA with 15 strikeouts and just one walk, an encouraging sign that he was regaining his top form.

The popular Talkin’ Baseball show shared the update Monday on X, formerly Twitter, citing MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry’s report on Eovaldi’s status before the game.

“Nathan Eovaldi is being scratched from his start tonight with left side tightness.”

Nathan Eovaldi is being scratched from his start tonight with left side tightness pic.twitter.com/7zz2VPB3vp

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 11, 2026

The Rangers have not announced a recovery timeline. Initial reports indicated the decision was precautionary, though additional testing is expected. Left-side tightness can be especially concerning for pitchers because oblique-related injuries often lead to extended absences.

The timing is also significant given Eovaldi’s recent injury history. He has dealt with a rotator cuff strain, sports hernia surgery, and other arm-related issues over the past two seasons. Texas now faces added pressure to protect its pitching depth during an important stretch.

The Rangers now await further evaluation results while hoping Eovaldi avoided a serious setback.

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