Long game: Eovaldi returns to WS as G1 starter
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Jeff Passan, ESPN
ARLINGTON, Texas — Five years after his legendary relief appearance in the longest game in World Series history, Nathan Eovaldi is finally getting the opportunity to start a game in the Fall Classic.
The 33-year-old right-hander will take the ball in Game 1 for the American League champion Texas Rangers, who host the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Friday.
The game comes five years and one day after Eovaldi pitched the 12th through 18th innings for the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series before giving up a walk-off home run to Max Muncy in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Eovaldi’s relief appearance, which came on the heels of him pitching one inning in Games 1 and 2, is revered among modern pitchers, who have come to regard it as one of the finest pitching performances of this century, even in a losing effort.
“I’m very grateful for the past experiences,” Eovaldi said Thursday. “Just being able to participate and get into the World Series was big. I kind of had my moment there.
“It’s more so just getting back into the World Series. It’s such an unbelievable experience and moment. That’s what you play every year for.”
Texas, the No. 5 seed in the AL, will face a Diamondbacks team that hasn’t been to the World Series since beating the New York Yankees in 2001. Pitching in his home state of Texas, Eovaldi will headline the rotation for a Rangers team looking to win its first championship in 63 years of existence.
“That would mean the world,” Eovaldi said. “It’s an amazing experience. Again, to be able to say you that were part of the first one, you kind of set the foundation for the years to come.”
Despite going 68-94 last season, the Rangers entered the winter looking to round out its solid lineup with frontline pitching. They signed former New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal and added left-handed Andrew Heaney as well.
With Eovaldi still available toward the end of December, Rangers general manager Chris Young negotiated a two-year, $34 million deal around Christmas.
And Eovaldi has been the gift that keeps on giving. He was one of the best pitchers in the AL in the first half, and after struggling following his late-season return from an arm injury, he has turned into Playoff Nate, the dominant force capable of carrying teams with a five-pitch mix.
Eovaldi has thrown at least six innings in all four of his starts this postseason: one in the wild-card series clincher, another in the division series clincher and a pair in Texas’ ALCS victory to go 4-0.
His coup-de-grace game, however, remains from 2018.
The Red Sox had taken the first two games from the Dodgers, and manager Alex Cora was pushing for another. In came Eovaldi, the Red Sox’s ninth pitcher of the day, to throw a scoreless 12th. Boston scored in the 13th, only to see a throwing error from Ian Kinsler — now a Rangers special assistant — allow the Dodgers to tie it.
Eovaldi threw four more shutout innings before allowing a Muncy walk-off home run in the 18th inning on his 97th pitch. Long removed from two Tommy John surgeries, Eovaldi has settled into an elder-statesman role, and his bona fides are clear. But that won’t tamp the excitement down — or prevent him from doing what he does so well.
“It’s more so trying to control the adrenaline and the emotions out there,” Eovaldi said. “Make sure from the first pitch on I’m trying to settle in as fast as I can into the game to go out there and try to go as long as I can.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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