Nathan Eovaldi likely done for season in Rangers injury crusher

Nathan Eovaldi’s season may be over. 

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said the right-hander is “likely done” for the 2025 season after suffering a rotator cuff strain. 

Eovaldi has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season when healthy. 

The 35-year-old veteran has a sparkling 1.73 ERA over 130 innings this season, striking out 129 batters while walking just 21. 

At one point earlier this summer, Eovaldi allowed one or zero earned runs in 13 of 14 starts, joining Bob Gibson during his 1968 season as the only non-opener starter in the Modern Era to accomplish such a feat, according to OptaSTATS.

Through a starter’s first 19 outings of a season, Eovaldi’s 1.38 ERA was the fifth-lowest ever, trailing only Bob Gibson (1.06, 1968), Luis Tiant (1.27, 1968), Zack Greinke (1.30, 2015), and Vida Blue (1.37, 1971).

The rotator cuff strain is the latest injury to derail Eovaldi’s career best season. 

In late May, Eovaldi went down with a triceps injury, sidelining him for a month. 

Eovaldi appeared as healthy as it can get during his last outing when he tossed seven innings of one-run, four-hit ball while striking out nine against the Guardians on Friday. 

He had been listed as the probable starter for Wednesday’s game against the Angels. 

The Eovaldi injury is the latest blow for a team that has already likely lost Evan Carter (wrist fracture) and Marcus Semien (foot fracture) for the rest of 2025. 

Despite a strong July, the Rangers’ playoff hopes were teetering before the Eovaldi news. 

Heading into Tuesday’s play, Texas sat at 66-67, seven games behind the Astros in the American League West and 5.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.