We won and that’s all that matters,” Eovaldi said after allowing five runs, including three homers in five innings of work Monday.

Eovaldi dominated the Yankees, allowing just one base runner across eight shutout innings on a night when they mustered just two hits total in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field.

Eovaldi is now up to 13 quality starts on the season -- five of which have come over his last seven outings -- and he sports a 1.76 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 120:21 K:BB across 123 innings this season. His next start is lined up for next weekend at home against the Guardians.

Eovaldi has burst into contention with a historically low ERA and a knack for winning when Texas absolutely needs it.

Through a starter’s first 19 outings of a season, Eovaldi’s 1.38 ERA is the fifth-lowest ever, trailing only Bob Gibson (1.06, 1968), Luis Tiant (1.27, 1968), Zack Greinke (1.30, 2015), and Vida Blue (1.37, 1971).

Nathan Eovaldi impresses with another scoreless performance, strengthening his Cy Young candidacy with a 1.38 ERA.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/rangers as Rangers Ace Nathan Eovaldi Having One of Best Starts to a Season in MLB History. One of the biggest moves that the Texas Rangers made during the MLB offseason was retaining starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

Nathan Eovaldi hands the ball to Red Sox bullpen catcher Mani Martìnez after Martinez threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game on July 4, 2023. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Eovaldi had allowed only four or more runs in a start three times in 18 starts this season. Boston’s rotation, meanwhile, had posted a 4.70 ERA, the seventh worst in baseball, entering the game.

As Eovaldi ages, he turns away from overpowering opponents with a fastball and instead relies on deception from the best pitch in his arsenal.

Entering Monday’s matchup with the Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field, Eovaldi had six straight winning decisions and had not shouldered a loss since May 22. It was easy to see why. Since he came off the injured list on June 27, Eovaldi had allowed five earned runs in 41 2/3 innings across seven starts. That was a 1.08 ERA in that time frame.