Texas Rangers Shuffle Rotation, Set Up Sunday Duel vs. Yankees Ace

The Texas Rangers have shuffled their rotation just a bit and set up a matchup of team aces at Yankee Stadium.

© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start Sunday’s finale against the New York Yankees, setting up a match-up of American League Cy Young candidates.

Eovaldi (9-3, 2.80) faces Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (8-1, 2.64) at 12:35 p.m. Sunday.

Eovaldi pitched against Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani a little more than a week ago.

The minor adjustment comes after the Rangers' last day off Thursday before the All-Star Break. Friday’s 4-2, 10-inning win against the Yankees, started a stretch of 17 games in 17 days for the Rangers.

Eovaldi is taking Andrew Heaney’s place in the rotation and pitching on his standard rest after last starting Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox.

Dane Dunning started Friday and Jon Gray starts Saturday.

The Rangers could start Heaney on Monday and Martín Pérez on Tuesday when they return home for a four-game series with Detroit. Or, they could start Pérez on Monday and Heaney on Tuesday. Each would have the rest to start either day.

The Rangers have yet to release probable starters for the Tigers series.

The move also sets Eovaldi on a course to be well-rested for what could be an All-Star Game appearance.

Assuming his schedule remains the same, Eovaldi would pitch again against the Houston Astros on June 30, followed by a start on July 5 at Boston. With four games remaining after that, Eovaldi would be on normal rest going into the All-Star Game on July 11.

The Rangers could also use Cody Bradford as a spot starter. They have done that twice during long stretches without an off-day this season.

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