Rangers alter pitching plans, turn to Nathan Eovaldi in finale vs. O's

The Baltimore Orioles don't want the first week of the season to end with a thud.

Some of the feel-good moments have faded as they try to get back in a groove when they take on the visiting Texas Rangers in the Wednesday afternoon series finale.

The Orioles are 2-3 as they prepare to wrap up the season-opening homestand.

The Rangers, who are 4-1 with a four-game winning streak, will go for the series sweep after earning an 8-5 victory Tuesday. There has been a good mood in the Texas clubhouse.

"It's only five games in, but it's a good start," Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. "I think it starts with the pitching. ... It has been fun to watch."

The Rangers made an adjustment to their pitching plans for Wednesday. Right-hander Kumar Rocker (4-5, 5.74 ERA in 2025) was slated to make his season debut for Texas, but Schumaker said he would be pushed back.

Instead, right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (0-1, 9.64) will be on the mound for his second start of the season.

Eovaldi is 9-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 20 career starts against the Orioles. He won his lone 2025 start vs. Baltimore, throwing five shutout innings.

There were signs of the Rangers were altering their plans when Rocker warmed up in the bullpen on Tuesday. Schumaker said later that Rocker could have been used in relief if the situation dictated. In 17 career big-league outings over two seasons, Rocker has never faced the Orioles -- and now that won't happen, at least in a starting role, this week.

Baltimore will go back to left-hander Trevor Rogers (1-0, 0.00), who threw seven scoreless innings in the opener against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, as their starting pitcher. Rogers permitted three hits and four walks while striking out five.

"That's what an ace does," Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said. "He goes out there and sets a tone."

Rogers is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four career starts against Texas. He dominated the Rangers last year, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts.

The Rangers have scored eight runs in games twice already this season. They had three players, including catcher Danny Jansen, belt a homer in the Tuesday game.

"I'm looking to build off it," said Jansen, who went 3-for-5 with a three-run shot. "It's a very high-energy team."

After some miserable stretches with the bats in a few games, the Orioles showed signs of perking up Tuesday.

"Our offense did a great job of keeping us in it," Albernaz said. "They competed to the last out, and that's something we can hang our hat on."

The Orioles hope to get more out of first baseman Pete Alonso after he homered for the first time in a Baltimore uniform on Tuesday.

"I'm glad to get the first one out of the way," Alonso said. "I'm glad to connect on one."

His bat is expected to boost the core of the Orioles' lineup.

"Good to see him get into one," Albernaz said.

The Orioles plan to make a roster move on Wednesday because right-hander Zach Eflin, who sustained a right elbow injury Tuesday night during his start, is probably headed to the injury list. Eflin is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam.

"Everyone is feeling for Zach right now, but at the end of the day there's a game tomorrow and there's a game the next day," Albernaz said. "Our guys will respond."

--Field Level Media