Nathan Eovaldi Set to Return for Rangers Friday After Back Stiffness

Nathan Eovaldi, the Texas Rangers right-hander, is scheduled to make his first start following the All-Star break on Friday night when the Rangers host the Atlanta Braves. Eovaldi was previously scratched from his last Sunday start due to back stiffness but is now cleared to return. His last outing on July 13 saw him deliver a strong performance, allowing just one run over 7⅔ innings in a victory at Houston. Despite not being an All-Star this season, Eovaldi received a $100,000 bonus in his contract after posting a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings, and he had previously missed a month earlier in the season from late May to late June due to a triceps injury.