Texas Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi scratched from start vs. Padres

ARLINGTON — Rangers right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi will not have the chance to halt his team’s first-inning woes. 

The Rangers scratched Eovaldi before Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field with “a little bit of knee discomfort” and started left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore in his place. Gore, who last pitched Monday against the Minnesota Twins, allowed one run in six innings against the team that drafted him third overall nine years ago. 

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after Saturday’s loss that Eovaldi will start Sunday’s series finale. Eovaldi, who has a 6.66 ERA in his previous four starts, was also scratched from a starter earlier this season with side tightness. 

Gore, who volunteered to start Saturday’s game according to Schumaker, snapped a streak of four consecutive games in which the Rangers allowed multiple first-inning runs. He was scheduled to start Sunday’s game but was able to make the spot start still on regular four day’s rest. 

“I was all for it,” Gore said of the start. “I was still on normal rest.”