{"id":344134,"date":"2026-06-20T16:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T16:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/344134\/"},"modified":"2026-06-20T16:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T16:43:10","slug":"rangers-lineup-vs-padres-texas-scratches-nathan-eovaldi-with-knee-soreness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/344134\/","title":{"rendered":"Rangers Lineup vs. Padres: Texas Scratches Nathan Eovaldi With Knee Soreness"},"content":{"rendered":"

ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 For once, the Texas Rangers<\/a>\u2019 lineup doesn\u2019t need much adjusting. But the rotation did. <\/p>\n

On Saturday, just before the clubhouse opened, the Rangers informed media <\/a>at Globe Life Field that starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi had been scratched due to left knee soreness and that MacKenzie Gore would start in his place. Gore was scheduled to start on Sunday. Now, Sunday’s starter is TBA. <\/p>\n

That means the Padres are likely to adjust their lineup for Saturday’s game as they expected to face a right-hander for the second straight game. <\/p>\n

As for the Rangers, they will face a right-hander for the second straight game against the San Diego Padres, this time Walker Buehler. But the Rangers<\/a>\u2019 offense is coming off a 9-7 win over the Padres on Friday night. <\/p>\n

How incredible was that offensive output? The Rangers<\/a> (36-39) scored six runs in the first inning \u2014 after San Diego put up five runs in the top of the first \u2014 which was one less run than they scored in their three games against the Minnesota Twins earlier this week. By game\u2019s end they had scored two more runs in that game than in the whole Twins series. <\/p>\n

The question, of course, is can the Rangers do it again? Here\u2019s the lineup. <\/p>\n

Texas Rangers Lineup for June 20, 2026\"Texas<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson. | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

DH Joc Pederson (L)<\/p>\n

3B Josh Jung<\/p>\n

CF Wyatt Langford<\/p>\n

RF Brandon Nimmo (L)<\/p>\n

SS Ezequiel Duran<\/p>\n

LF Jarred Kelenic (L)<\/p>\n

1B Jake Burger<\/p>\n

2B Nicky Lopez (L)<\/p>\n

C Kyle Higashioka<\/p>\n

RHP MacKenzie Gore<\/p>\n

For the second straight game the Rangers have a good reason to put designated hitter Joc Pederson at the top of the order, and not just because he’s been one of their better hitters for the past month. He\u2019s a good matchup against Buehler. They faced each other plenty in the National League West and Pederson has a .273 lifetime batting average against him with a home run and an RBI.<\/p>\n

Brandon Nimmo is the only other Rangers hitter with more than 10 at-bats against Buehler lifetime. He\u2019s batting .182 with two RBI. <\/p>\n

Another Rangers batter to watch is Jake Burger. While he is 0-for-3 against Buehler, he\u2019s been productive the last month. Since May 29 he is slashing .303\/.382\/.485 with two home runs and eight RBI. <\/p>\n

The American League West race continues to look tight. The Seattle Mariners (39-38) have the lead, but by only a half-game off over the Athletics (38-38), two games over the Rangers and three games over the Houston Astros (36-41). Where Texas has lost ground is in the wild card race, where it enters Saturday’s action 1.5 teams out of the final wild card spot.<\/p>\n

Texas is in a stretch of 15 games in 15 days before a scheduled day off on July 2 for a World Cup match at nearby AT&T Stadium. After Sunday, the Rangers hit the road for a 10-game road trip to Miami, Toronto and Cleveland before returning to Globe Life Field to host the Detroit Tigers in a three-game, four-day series that starts on July 2. <\/p>\n

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