The Texas Rangers announced Sunday that they placed right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain.
Manager Bruce Bochy shared optimism that Eovaldi will only miss the minimum 15 days, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. With the move retroactive to July 27, the two-time All-Star could return as early as Aug. 12 against the San Francisco Giants.
He's slated to see Dr. Keith Meister when the team returns to Texas on Monday.
Eovaldi, 33, is in the midst of a breakout campaign, acting as the club's ace after Jacob deGrom was lost to Tommy John surgery. The two-time All-Star is in the first season of a two-year, $34-million contract and is authoring a 2.69 ERA and 3.25 FIP over 123 2/3 innings. He leads MLB with 11 wins, a 162 ERA+, and a 1.01 WHIP.
His recent turn in the rotation against the Houston Astros was skipped. He was slated to start Sunday versus the San Diego Padres but was a late scratch from that game as well, later landing on the IL.
Right-hander Grant Anderson was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock in a corresponding move.
Anderson, 26, made his major-league debut earlier this season, appearing in 19 games as a reliever. The righty owns a 5.20 ERA and 3.68 FIP over 27 2/3 innings.
The Rangers finalized a deal to acquire veteran ace Max Scherzer on Sunday in exchange for infield/outfield prospect Luisangel Acuna.
