ARLINGTON — The Rangers were without right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi for at least one scheduled start. The hope is that it won’t become multiple. 

Eovaldi was scratched from Monday’s start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field after he reported “left side tightness” when he arrived to the ballpark. The 36-year-old underwent scans to determine the severity of the soreness and the Rangers will determine how much additional time, if any, he may need to miss. Right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis started Monday’s 1-0 loss vs. the Diamondbacks in Eovaldi’s place. 

“You never want to hear ‘left side’ anything from anybody,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “We’ll find out when the imaging comes. I don’t want to guess what it is.”

Schumaker said after Monday’s loss that Eovaldi is “day-to-day” but no news was given on when he could next pitch. 

Eovaldi has posted a 2.45 ERA in his last six appearances after an uncharacteristically slow start. He allowed one run in his last two starts combined, both against the New York Yankees, after an arsenal tweak allowed the Alvin native to return to his usual dominance. Eovaldi has landed on the injured list four times in three-plus seasons with the Rangers — a forearm strain, a groin strain, elbow inflammation and a rotator cuff strain — but hasn’t missed considerable time because of a side or oblique injury since he was a minor leaguer. 

The situation is a tad more complicated if Eovaldi does need time on the injured list given the club’s lack of available rotation depth. Left-handed pitcher Jacob Latz is more than capable of a spot start or an extended stay in the rotation, but given his emergence as the team’s pseudo closer, may be best left in the bullpen. Right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill is on the active roster and has a 4.54 ERA in 149 career starts.

Their minor league options are thin, and on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher David Davalillo may be the best available option if the Rangers desire a pitcher who can start games in Eovaldi’s place. The 24-year-old has a 3.86 ERA at Double-A Frisco this season but has never pitched above that classification. The Rangers would need to make a more significant roster move to add an arm from Triple-A Round Rock — like right-handers Trey Supak or Austin Gomber — to the 40-man roster.