The Texas Rangers’ three-game series at Fenway Park will conclude with a resounding exclamation point.
Ahead of Tuesday’s series opener, Nathan Eovaldi confirmed that he’ll take the mound for the finale on Thursday.
“I’m definitely excited, obviously. I had this (series) on my schedule,” the former Red Sox star told reporters on Tuesday morning. “To be able to start this one, I mean, I was super excited.
“I was excited just to be able to come back here alone, but to be able to pitch in front of the fans again, it’ll be awesome.”
The last time Eovaldi pitched against the Red Sox, he was a New York Yankee. That was on Aug. 10, 2016, his last game of the season before needing Tommy John surgery for the second time.
While his arm recovered, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2017. At the following summer’s trade deadline, they dealt him to Boston, and he immediately cemented himself as a crucial member of that record-breaking team, a galvanizing postseason workhorse, and a fan-favorite.
Then, along with most of the remaining members of the historic 2018 team, he reached free agency and moved on.
Red Sox Nation essentially had to say goodbye to him twice. They braced themselves for a trade deadline departure that never came to pass, then watched him sail into the free agency sunset and sign a two-year, $34 million contract (that could pay him as much as $63 million over three seasons) with the Rangers.
Indeed, Thursday will be bittersweet because of the player the Red Sox let get away, the season he’s having for another team, and the position they’re in without him.
The pitcher affectionately known as Nasty Nate is definitely winning the breakup. His former team is at the bottom of the division, with more than half their starting pitchers on the injured list. Meanwhile, over 17 starts for the first-place Rangers, the Texas native owns a 2.64 ERA and 0.988 WHIP, leads the majors with two complete games (one a shutout), and leads the American League with 112 1/3 innings pitched. He’ll be one of several former Red Sox stars in this year’s All-Star Game, and may even start the game for Team AL.
While there’s no guarantee that Eovaldi would be enjoying this level of success had he stayed in Boston, his health and success juxtapose strongly with the injury-burdened Red Sox pitching staff.
As Eovaldi thrives in Texas, he’s moved by the support he continues to receive from Red Sox fans. The affection, he says, is still mutual.
“Obviously, I miss it here,” he admitted. “I had such an amazing time here in my career. Everything that we were able to do in ’18, and then, you know, the personal little achievements that I was able to accomplish as well. Boston always has a place near and dear to my heart.
“I think it’s the fan base. You know, what I mean? The way that they come out and support. I feel like the whole city… they live and breathe baseball, I feel like, and it’s just that special connection.”
Even as a free agent, Eovaldi made it clear that he wanted to remain in Boston. He admits he’s still not entirely sure why the Red Sox didn’t bring him back.
“I was positive that I’d be able to come back,” he said. “We stayed in contact with everybody… we kept that door open as long as possible, but it was getting to that point where it was time to move on.”
“I was able to accomplish a lot here,” the righty said. “Being able to put on that Red Sox uniform, it’s something special.”
During Tuesday afternoon’s pregame ceremonies, the Red Sox welcomed Eovaldi onto the field. He tipped his cap to the applauding crowd before catching a ceremonial first pitch from Red Sox bullpen catcher, Mani Martinez.
Then, for the first time in over half a decade, he turned left instead of right and walked back to the visitors’ dugout.
Story time soon?
After months of managing expectations with regards to Trevor Story’s timetable, Alex Cora allowed himself a moment of optimism when discussing the recovering infielder.
“He’s feeling good, he’s throwing the ball well,” the Red Sox manager said on Tuesday morning. “He’s making some tough throws.”
“It’s looking good, it’s looking good,” Cora reiterated enthusiastically, before giving a telling non-update update.
“I don’t want to get too excited, let’s put it that way.”
Story underwent internal bracing surgery in January. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) procedure, nicknamed Tommy John Lite, is considered a promising alternative to the infamous surgery, especially in that it requires roughly half the recovery time; pitchers who undergo Tommy John typically miss 12-18 months, but the internal brace carries an estimated timetable of six months.
The 30-year-old infielder is hoping to rejoin the team in August, but as optimistic as his manager is about his progress, he still declined to offer a set timetable for a rehab assignment.
Injury and roster updates
On Tuesday, the Red Sox placed Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 3) with right elbow inflammation.
The righty only lasted one inning in his Sunday start before being pulled. The updated diagnosis is a bone bruise, Cora said. As elbow ailments go, this is the lesser of the evils.
“For how bad it looked, or whatever people were thinking, you know, ligament-wise and all that stuff, this is kind of like, the closest thing to good news,” he explained.
John Schreiber threw a live bullpen on Tuesday morning, with Story as one of his opponents. The Red Sox are hoping the righty will be able to rejoin the team before the All-Star break; Joely Rodriguez will likely be activated during the Rangers series.
Chris Sale threw multiple times over the last week, but there’s still no timetable for him.
Looking ahead
Three-game sets against the Rangers and A’s are all that stand between the Red Sox and the All-Star break.
After going with Brennan Bernardino as the opener on Tuesday, Brayan Bello will start Wednesday, Kutter Crawford on Thursday.
“Hopefully, Pax (James Paxton) on Friday,” Cora said.
Paxton earned American League Pitcher of the Month in June, but is currently on the paternity list.
