The Texas Rangers pulled veteran right‑hander Nathan Eovaldi from his Saturday start against the San Diego Padres after he reported left knee soreness. Left‑handed reliever MacKenzie Gore was promoted a day early to take the mound, while the club left Sunday’s final game starter undecided. This marks the second scratch for Eovaldi in just over a month in Texas today.

Eovaldi, 36, missed a May 11 turn versus Arizona because of side tightness, then returned to deliver seven scoreless innings and eight strikeouts in an 8‑0 win over Houston. He sits at 6‑7 with a 4.23 ERA across 14 starts this season. The veteran’s health concerns follow a right rotator‑cuff strain and sports‑hernia surgery that ended his 2025 campaign.

The Rangers have won three of their last five games but sit near the AL West’s middle of the pack, making every rotation slot critical. Without Eovaldi, Dallas may lean on younger arms like Brock Burke or call up a prospect, a move that could reshape the bullpen hierarchy. The club now faces a tight schedule with playoff positioning at stake.