ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom has about five starts left in the regular season, and Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Monday that what happened in Chicago last week is not a sign of anything physical.
Young made the comments on “G-Bag Nation” on 105.3 The Fan, hours before deGrom takes the ball against the Athletics at Globe Life Field.
The start before deGrom’s last one was dominant, Young said, and deGrom struck out 10 and gave up 1 hit in it.
“It’s a big game,” Young said. “Jacob obviously was not happy with his last outing, felt like he let the team down. Jacob is a competitor. I know that he has not been happy the last few days, working towards this start. And so my guess is we’re going to see a really good version of Jacob tonight who’s motivated and wants to pick this team up, because he wants to make the playoffs and he wants to do his part. And he knows that last week was frustrating, but that’s part of baseball. And now it’s what we do moving forward. And I’m very confident Jacob’s going to be ready to go tonight.”
Jacob deGrom’s Eight-Run Start In Chicago
On Aug. 25 at Rate Field, deGrom gave up 6 runs in the first inning and 8 in the start (3 2/3 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 5 BB, 2 SO). Chicago sent 10 batters to the plate in the opening frame, and deGrom threw 42 pitches before he recorded the third out. It was the most runs he has allowed in a first inning. Texas lost 11-7.
Five days earlier against the Washington Nationals, deGrom worked 6 scoreless innings on 1 hit and 1 walk with 10 strikeouts. He became the 95th pitcher to reach 2,000 career strikeouts. He got there in the second-fewest games or innings in major league history.
Chris Young On deGrom’s Final Five Starts
deGrom wants to pick the team up, and he wants to make the playoffs and do his part.
“Look, the start before the last one, he punched out 10 and gave up one hit. He was dominant,” Young explained. “So it’s in there. Everybody’s entitled to a bad game. His unfortunately came at a time where we felt like we had a winnable situation, and probably it seemed worse than it was, frankly. But nonetheless, it’s really not about what the last game was. It’s about how he pitches from here on out. And I think looking at the calendar, he’s probably got five more starts. And if he pitches well in those five starts, he’s going to put us in a really good spot. But it’s not a stuff deterioration or an age or a health issue. His stuff is still really, really good. And so my expectation is tonight he’ll be on his game.”
deGrom’s Numbers Through 25 Starts
deGrom is 9-9 with a 4.21 ERA over 25 starts. In five August starts, he went 2-3 with a 7.20 ERA. Between 2020 and 2025, he did not make a single start in which he allowed 6 or more runs. He has four of them this season.
The 38-year-old right-hander signed a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas before the 2023 season. He was hurt through the postseason run that ended in the franchise’s first World Series title that fall.
Before Monday’s opener, Texas placed right-handers Peyton Gray and Cole Winn on the 15-day injured list and recalled two pitchers from Triple-A Round Rock.
The Rangers open a three-game series against the Athletics on Monday at 7:05 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field. Texas is 67-70, second in the American League West and two games behind the Houston Astros, with 25 games left. The game airs on Rangers Sports Network.
