Nathan Eovaldi DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi tossed a gem on Tuesday, shutting out the Reds in a 1-0 victory. He allowed four hits and struck out eight batters in his nine innings of work. He was extremely efficient, needing just 99 pitches to finish the game. This is his second quality start in a row to begin the season, as he struck out nine over six solid innings on Opening Day. The veteran was solid in 2024, posting a 3.80 and 1.11 WHIP in 170 innings. He can be volatile at times, but when everything is working right, he looks like an ace. He is a must-start fantasy option for the time being as he rides out this hot stretch.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi tossed six strong innings on Opening Day, but the bullpen gave up three runs in the ninth to the Red Sox in the team's 5-2 defeat. Eovaldi left after six with the score tied 2-2 after giving up two runs on just three hits while striking out nine and walking no one. He earned his first quality start of the season and tied the club mark for the most K's by a starting pitcher on Opening Day in Rangers history. Eovaldi gave up eight runs in 13 innings in spring training, so it's encouraging to see the 35-year-old step up with this strong outing now that the games count. His next start lines up to be on the road in Cincinnati next week.

Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 27 against the visiting Boston Red Sox, manager Bruce Bochy announced on Sunday. It will be Eovaldi's fifth career Opening Day nod, and he'll also become the seventh pitcher in Rangers history to make consecutive Opening Day starts. The 35-year-old is not without injury questions, which is why he's ranked just outside RotoBaller's top-50 fantasy starting pitchers. Still, Eovaldi was respectable in his 29 starts for Texas in his second year with the team, going 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA (3.83 FIP), a 1.11 WHIP and 166:42 K:BB in 170 2/3 frames. Even though the two-time All-Star's 170 2/3 innings were his most since 2021, he still missed time with a groin issue and should be counted on for at least one stint on the injured list at some point, especially given his age. Eovaldi has a stable skill set and a decent floor for a back-end fantasy starter.