The Texas Rangers got the kind of late-season boost they’ve been waiting on Saturday, bringing back two key pieces as they keep pushing through a crowded playoff race.
Before the second game of their three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas activated third baseman Josh Jung from the 10-day injured list and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi from the 15-day injured list.
Jung’s return comes after a four-game rehab stint with Round Rock on its trip to Salt Lake City this week. He served as the designated hitter in his first two games, then got back on the dirt Thursday and Friday. On Friday, he handled third base for eight innings, which looked like the last box he needed to check before rejoining the Rangers.
That matters because Jung had been one of Texas’ most productive bats before going down in late July. He was hitting .294/.361/.441 in 92 games, with nine home runs and 35 RBI, and was in the mix to represent the club at the All-Star Game. In his absence, the Rangers have shuffled the hot corner with Ezequiel Duran starting at third against right-handed pitching and Cody Freeman getting the nod there against lefties, while Duran has moved to center field against left-handers in place of Evan Carter.
Because the calf injury took time to heal, Texas may not lean on Jung only at third base. The club has the flexibility to use him at designated hitter as often as needed, and that could be part of the plan as he works back into full rhythm.
Eovaldi’s return is a different kind of lift. He did not go on a rehab assignment, since there wasn’t enough time left for him to build up with an affiliate before rejoining the rotation.
Instead, the Rangers plan to use him as a multi-inning reliever or an opener to strengthen the staff. He threw two simulated games this week, including one that reached 40 pitches.
Before the injury, Eovaldi was 10-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 22 starts, along with 137 strikeouts and 32 walks. Texas has already built him up at the major-league level before, including in the final month of the 2023 season after he returned from an elbow injury. By then, he was stretched out as a starter for the Rangers’ run to their first World Series title.
The schedule ahead is lined up to keep the pressure on. Texas finishes the Arizona series Sunday, then takes Monday off before heading back to Arlington for its final homestand of the season.
That 10-day, nine-game stretch starts Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox, who appear headed for a playoff berth. After that comes a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays, another club locked in the fight for the final AL wild card spot alongside the Rangers and the Cleveland Guardians.
After a day off on Sept. 21, Texas closes the homestand with three games against the New York Mets, a series that will bring former Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien back to Arlington for the first time since last offseason’s trade.
The regular season ends on the road, where the Rangers will play three games against the Minnesota Twins from Sept. 26-28.
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