The Texas Rangers begin their 2026 regular season Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia, with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi taking the ball for the first pitch at 3:15 p.m. Central against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Manager Skip Schumaker named Eovaldi the Opening Day starter, saying it was a "pretty easy decision" given the leadership and standards the veteran right-hander has established in the clubhouse. With the assignment, Eovaldi becomes just the fourth pitcher in Rangers history to make three or more consecutive Opening Day starts, joining Kevin Millwood, Nolan Ryan and Charlie Hough.
The pitching matchups for the three-game opening series are set: Eovaldi faces left-hander Christopher Sánchez on Thursday, Jacob deGrom opposes Aaron Nola on Saturday, and new acquisition MacKenzie Gore starts Sunday against Jesús Luzardo.
Eovaldi went 11-3 last season while pitching 130 innings, narrowly missing the ERA title qualification threshold, and has won at least 11 games in each season since joining Texas in 2023, winning World Series titles with Boston in 2018 and with the Rangers in 2023.
The rotation features Eovaldi, deGrom, Jack Leiter, Gore and Kumar Rocker. Gore came to Texas in a trade from Washington this winter in which the Rangers sent five Top 30 prospects to the Nationals.
To finalize the 26-man roster, the Rangers selected outfielder Andrew McCutchen's contract from Triple-A Round Rock and placed left-hander Cody Bradford on the 15-day injured list (left elbow surgery rehab) and infielder Cody Freeman on the 10-day injured list (lumbar stress reaction). Outfielder Dairon Blanco was designated for assignment.
Jordan Montgomery, who helped Texas win the 2023 World Series, is on the 60-day injured list recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to return until the second half of the season.
The everyday lineup is anchored by shortstop Corey Seager, with Jake Burger, Josh Smith, Josh Jung and Ezequiel Duran in the infield and Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford and Brandon Nimmo in the outfield. Kyle Higashioka is expected to get the Opening Day start behind the plate, sharing duties with Danny Jansen.
After wrapping the Philadelphia series, Texas moves to Baltimore for three games against the Orioles before returning home. The Rangers host their home opener Friday, April 3 against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field in Arlington, with first pitch at 3:05 p.m. Central — the 55th home opener in franchise history and seventh at Globe Life Field. Co-ace Jacob deGrom will start that game.
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After wrapping the Philadelphia series, Texas moves to Baltimore for three games against the Orioles before returning home.
