Since Wednesday, three starting pitchers changed addresses from teams not in the playoff hunt to teams that are firmly in position to reach postseason play. Nathan Eovaldi went from the Rays to the Red Sox, J.A. Happ left the Blue Jays to head to the Yankees, and Cole Hamels will be joining the Cubs after being acquired from the Rangers.

While none of the three can be considered dominant starters at this moment, they all will help their new respective teams’ starting rotations. Here is who they will be replacing in the rotation on their new teams.

Nathan Eovaldi to Red Sox

Eovaldi has made 10 starts for the Rays this season and has gone 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He owns a rather impressive 6.63 strikeout to walk ratio thus far on the year. The 28-year-old missed all of 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery. According to CBS Sports, Brian Johnson will slide back into the bullpen where he previously made 21 relief appearances. He entered the starting rotation on June 28, and has a 1.88 ERA in five starts in just 24 innings.

J.A. Happ to Yankees

On Thursday, the Yankees acquired J.A. Happ from the Blue Jays. A first-time All-Star this year, Happ has gone 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 20 starts this season. The 35-year-old has gone 7-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) in his career against the Red Sox, the team the Yankees are trying to catch in the AL East.

He has allowed just one run in 10.2 innings against Boston in 2018.

He will replace Luis Cessa and Domingo German who have made 17 starts combined this year since Jordan Montgomery was lost for the season. The 25-year-old German has made 13 starts but hasn’t been all that effective when utilized as a starter. In that role, he is 2-5 with a 6.18 ERA.

Cole Hamels to Cubs

Also on Thursday, the 34-year-old Hamels was sent to the Cubs via the Rangers. He is in the midst of what has been his worst season with career-worsts in ERA (4.72) and WHIP (1.37) in 20 starts. The four-time All-Star comes to Chicago postseason-tested, though. He has made 16 starts in the playoffs going 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA.

He was named both NLCS MVP and World Series MVP as the Phillies won a championship in 2008.

While it is unclear who Hamels will replace in the rotation, The Athletic is reporting that it is likely to be Tyler Chatwood. The 28-year-old has struggled mightily in his first season of a three-year, $38 million deal with Chicago. He has nearly a five ERA in 19 starts and has walked an unheard of 8.1 hitters per nine innings.
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