The Texas Rangers have been on a roll at home, thanks in large part to the impressive performances of right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi has been dominant at Globe Life Field, setting a new club record by allowing two runs or less in each of his first nine starts of the season. This streak surpasses the previous record set by Kyle Gibson in 2021.
Eovaldi’s most recent gem came in a 7-0 win over the San Diego Padres, where he allowed just one hit over seven innings while striking out six. The Rangers’ manager, Bruce Bochy, praised Eovaldi’s performance, noting his good pace and ability to pound the strike zone.
In his career, Eovaldi has had success against the Tampa Bay Rays, with an 8-6 record and a 3.60 ERA in 18 appearances. He has won his last four starts against the Rays, including a dominant performance earlier this season where he pitched seven shutout innings and struck out eight.
The Rays, on the other hand, have had a streak of five consecutive series wins snapped by the Rangers with a 4-3 loss on Saturday. Despite a strong performance from Yandy Diaz, who hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, the Rays couldn’t hold on as Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer to give the Rangers the lead.
Semien’s homer was a significant moment for the Rangers, as it snapped a 22-game homerless streak for the team. Semien expressed his desire to build on that momentum and focus on the positive aspects of his game.
In the series finale, the Rays will turn to right-hander Zack Littell to try and avoid a sweep. Littell, who has a 3-5 record and a 3.94 ERA, is coming off a solid start against the Kansas City Royals, where he pitched five shutout innings.
Overall, the series between the Rangers and the Rays has been filled with exciting moments and strong performances. Both teams will be looking to finish strong in the final game of the series and carry that momentum into the rest of the season.
