ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jacob deGrom left Thursday night’s start against the Los Angeles Angels after two innings with right triceps fatigue, the Texas Rangers announced.
deGrom allowed 2 earned runs on 6 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3. He threw 53 pitches, with 35 strikes.
The exit left him at 1,998 career strikeouts, two short of 2,000.
Five of the six hits against deGrom came in the second inning. He needed 32 pitches to get through the frame, tied for his second-most in an inning this season. His high was 34 in the first inning on May 22, also at Angel Stadium.
According to MLB.com, deGrom had not allowed 5 hits in one inning since Sept. 5, 2017, when Philadelphia collected 6 against him in the fourth while he was pitching for the New York Mets.
His velocity did not dip Thursday. deGrom reached 99 mph, and all five of his pitches averaged above their season velocities, according to Statcast. He generated 10 swings and misses.
Jacob deGrom Has Managed Hip Issue Since July
Thursday was the latest physical issue deGrom has worked through this summer.
A mild left glute strain kept him from making his final start before the All-Star break. In his previous outing July 7 against the Angels, deGrom had also dealt with discomfort around his hip and leg.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said at the time that deGrom was feeling better, but Texas did not want to push him into another start before the break.
“You never want any of your players to feel anything, especially Jacob deGrom,” Schumaker said. “I think, obviously, if there’s anything with the hip or lower half or arm, you’re definitely concerned. Having a conversation with him, the way he’s feeling today is better. You never know until a couple more days of rehab and how he feels. So I think the All-Star break is at the right time for him to recover, and hopefully it’s shorter right after the All-Star break than longer.”
Texas kept deGrom off the injured list.
The right-hander has not been on the IL since returning from Tommy John surgery, which ended his 2023 season and limited him to three starts in 2024.
On Aug. 8 against the Baltimore Orioles, deGrom worked five innings and allowed 1 run on 3 hits. He struck out 9 and threw 88 pitches.
Schumaker ended his night there, with the hip again a factor in the decision.
“The hip is still there a little bit but we’re going to be able to manage it and keep going,” deGrom said. “I had some deep counts and was at 88 at the end of the fifth. Today was definitely better than it had been in Houston, so we tried not to reset it and take a step backwards. I think we came out at a good time. I obviously wish I could’ve gone deeper, and the pitch count wasn’t there, but we were obviously able to come out of that one feeling better than I did after the Houston one.”
deGrom has not completed more than 5 innings in any of his last six starts.
Through 23 starts this season, the 38-year-old is 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA over 120 2/3 innings.
Texas Rangers Already Without Nathan Eovaldi
The triceps issue comes on the heels of another member of the rotation already on the injured list.
Nathan Eovaldi went on the 15-day IL on Aug. 10, retroactive to Aug. 9, with right posterior elbow inflammation.
Eovaldi felt discomfort while playing catch, and imaging later showed the inflammation. He leads Texas with 10 wins and 132 2/3 innings.
The Rangers have been piecing together the rotation one turn at a time since then.
Kumar Rocker, MacKenzie Gore and Cody Bradford would be available on normal rest during this weekend’s series against the Athletics. Jordan Montgomery and Cal Quantrill are working out of the bullpen, while Jack Leiter remains on the injured list following ankle surgery.
deGrom is in the fourth season of the five-year, $185 million contract he signed with Texas in December 2022. He is making $38 million this season and is owed $37 million in 2027. His contract includes a mutual option for 2028.
Texas entered Thursday at 60-61 and 1 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
The Rangers open a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday at Sutter Health Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. CT.
