How Do Texas Rangers Regain Edge? Remaining 'Bitter And Upset' About Houston Astros Winning AL West

Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi knows the target is on his team's back as defending World Series champions but they still have score to settle with Astros.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Nathan Eovaldi has been here before.

He helped the Boston Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and saw the team struggle to defend their title in 2019.

The Texas Rangers right-hander who was 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA during the club's first World Series championship run last fall knows the 2024 season will have a different vibe.

"Everything's different. You know, we've got that target on our back," Eovaldi said. "Teams are coming out for us and we start off against really good opponents in the beginning of the season, so we have to be ready to go."

How does a defending World Series champion regain its edge? For Eovaldi, it's about turning the page and focusing on what lies ahead.

But he also remembers that the club lost the American League West division title on a tiebreaker to the Houston Astros and had to make their title run the hard way.

"It's scary to think how good we could have been last year. And we were able to win it," he said. "I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Obviously, we are very bitter and upset about losing the division, but we were able to get it back in the ALCS."

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The Rangers know the Astros remain a formidable rival. The Seattle Mariners are likely to be improved. And the Los Angeles Angels now have a familiar face in Ron Washington managing the club.

"It's a very tough division. Every team is coming after us," Eovaldi said. "We need to do our job, turn the page, and go out there attacking guys."

Eovaldi believes the Rangers clubhouse is filled with the right types of players to make a strong stand to defend the 2023 title. He credits general manager Chris Young and manager Bruce Bochy for setting the tone.

"I feel like CY does a really good job of getting the right group of guys in here," he said. "We've got a lot of leaders in the clubhouse. We may not have that one guy who's going to stand up and say something every time, but we have a lot of guys who have a good idea of how to play the game and win. And they say the right things at the right time."

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