AL West-leading Rangers will skip All-Star Eovaldi in Houston as part of a rest plan #Westleading #Rangers #skip #AllStar #Eovaldi #Houston #part #rest #plan

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers will skip All-Star right-hander Nathan Eovaldi for one turn through the rotation as part of a plan to give all their starters some rest.

The decision revealed Sunday by manager Bruce Bochy means Eovaldi won’t pitch when the AL West-leading Rangers visit in-state rival and defending World Series champion Houston starting Monday.

Jon Gray will pitch Monday’s series opener, and left-hander Andrew Heaney will get the finale Wednesday. Texas hasn’t decided who will take Eovaldi’s turn Tuesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, left, pumps his fist as he rounds the bases on a two-run home run off Texas Rangers relief pitcher Glenn Otto during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. Miguel Rojas also scored on the play. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Freddie Freeman homered twice and Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez also went deep as the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Texas Rangers 16-3.

Texas Rangers head athletic trainer Matt Lucero, left, and manager Bruce Bochy, left rear, attend to Adolis Garcia, right, after Garcia was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. Garcia left the game with an unknown left arm injury. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García has exited a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after the All-Star slugger got hit by a pitch on his right hand.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) pumps his fist as he runs the bases after a home run in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers during a baseball game Friday, July 21, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run double and a solo homer before scoring the go-ahead run as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Texas Rangers 11-5.

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager (5) is celebrated in the dugout after a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 21, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)

Texas Rangers All-Star shortstop Corey Seager is on the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb.

While acknowledging that Eovaldi’s velocity was down while throwing six scoreless innings in his most recent start against Tampa Bay, Bochy said that wasn’t the only factor in the timing.

Eovaldi didn’t get the full All-Star break after making the team for the second time. He pitched a scoreless inning in the AL’s 3-2 loss to the NL.

“This was talked about before the season,” Bochy said. “At some point, we’d like to give these guys a little extra time.”

With ace Jacob deGrom sidelined by Tommy John surgery until at least next year, Eovaldi has been the best starter as the surprising Rangers have been in first place all but one day this season coming off six consecutive losing seasons.

Eovaldi (11-3) entered Sunday tied for the American League lead in wins with an AL-leading 2.69 ERA. The 33-year-old had a career-best scoreless streak of 29 2/3 innings this season.