Rays starter Nate Eovaldi, who has already had two Tommy John surgeries, has been diagnosed with loose bodies in his right elbow and, as a result, is facing arthroscopic surgery that will knock him out for an extended period, though possibly not the whole season.
Eovaldi has looked sharp this spring and was scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Red Sox. Given that the Rays were planning on going with a unique four-man-plus-a-bullpen-day rotation, losing him is going definitely impact the Rays plans going forward. For now they will start Jake Faria on Sunday, with Saturday’s starter currently undecided.
There’s a saying that no battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. In the case of the Rays rotation, it didn’t even survive a few days before first contact.