The Texas Rangers will welcome one of their biggest stars back to the mound on Monday as ace Jacob deGrom is scheduled to make his first start following the All-Star break when Texas opens a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field. The veteran right-hander is expected to face White Sox starter Erick Fedde, marking an important return for a Rangers club looking to maintain its lead atop the American League West.
DeGrom’s availability had been uncertain after he was scratched from his final scheduled start before the All-Star break because of a mild left glute strain. The injury raised concerns that Texas could be without its top starter to begin the second half of the season. However, those concerns eased over the weekend after the 38-year-old successfully completed a bullpen session in Atlanta, convincing the Rangers’ coaching and medical staffs that he was ready to return to game action.
The Monday night start will be deGrom’s first appearance since July 7, giving him 13 days of rest before taking the mound. The extended recovery period should leave the veteran well-rested as the Rangers begin what could be one of the most important stretches of their season.
Before the brief injury setback, deGrom had once again established himself as the anchor of the Texas rotation. Through 18 starts, he owns a 7-5 record with a 3.49 ERA, while striking out 122 batters and issuing just 22 walks over 100.2 innings. His strikeout total ranks among the best on the Rangers’ staff, making him one of only three Texas starters to surpass 100 strikeouts before the month of August.
His most recent outing came against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed two earned runs on five hits across five innings, recording seven strikeouts despite taking a no-decision. Monday’s assignment will be his 19th start of the 2026 campaign.
DeGrom’s return comes at a critical time for the Rangers. Although Texas enters the week in first place in the AL West, the club’s advantage over the Seattle Mariners has become increasingly slim after dropping two of three games to the Atlanta Braves immediately following the All-Star break. Every game now carries added significance as the division race tightens with less than three months remaining in the regular season.
The Rangers also have an important showdown looming later this week when Seattle arrives in Arlington for a four-game divisional series. If Texas keeps deGrom on his normal schedule following Monday’s outing, he could line up to face the Mariners over the weekend, giving the Rangers their best pitcher in one of the biggest series of the season.
While deGrom’s return solidifies the front of the rotation, Texas has yet to announce its starters for the remainder of the White Sox series. Kumar Rocker appears to be the leading candidate for Tuesday’s game after not pitching since July 11. The young right-hander is looking to rebound after struggling in his final first-half outing against the Houston Astros, where he surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. Rocker enters the week with a 2-8 record and a 4.40 ERA, though he has endured a difficult stretch, posting an 0-3 record with a 5.82 ERA over his last seven appearances.
Veteran right-hander Cal Quantrill is the likely option for Wednesday’s series finale despite a rough outing against Atlanta before the break. Quantrill allowed 11 hits and six earned runs in four innings, marking one of his toughest performances since joining the Rangers’ rotation in place of the injured Jack Leiter. Overall, he owns a 3-2 record with a 3.93 ERA across 20 appearances, including five starts, but has struggled recently with a 5.70 ERA over his last seven outings.
As the Rangers continue to battle injuries throughout their pitching staff and prepare for the approaching Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, deGrom’s healthy return provides a significant boost to a team determined to remain atop the AL West. With a critical divisional showdown against Seattle just days away, the Rangers will be counting on their ace to set the tone for the second half and help strengthen their position in the playoff race.
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