Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom remains confident that he will make his next scheduled start despite battling discomfort in his left hip and leg during Tuesday night’s 8-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Although the veteran right-hander was limited to five innings, both deGrom and the Rangers expressed optimism that the issue is minor and can be managed without disrupting his place in the rotation.
Rangers Take Precaution with Their Ace
DeGrom delivered another effective outing, throwing 80 pitches over five innings while helping Texas secure a convincing win over the Angels.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner likely would have pitched deeper into the game had it not been for lingering tightness that gradually worsened as the night progressed.
Manager Skip Schumaker revealed after the game that the Rangers made the decision to remove deGrom as a precaution once the discomfort became more noticeable, emphasizing that the club did not want to risk aggravating the issue.
Injury Began Before Game Day
According to deGrom, the discomfort was not something that suddenly appeared during the game.
Instead, he first noticed the sensation between starts while preparing for Tuesday’s outing. Although he has experienced similar tightness in the past, it typically subsides before his next appearance.
This time, however, the soreness lingered longer than usual.
The veteran pitcher explained that he and the Rangers’ training staff worked on the issue throughout the week, but he continued feeling it during his pregame routine.
While warming up, deGrom recognized that the discomfort remained and decided to shorten his bullpen session before taking the mound, believing there was little benefit in pushing himself before the game even began.
Despite the nagging issue, he still wanted to compete and remain on the mound for as long as possible.
Tightness Increased During Outing
After surrendering two runs in the opening inning, deGrom gradually settled into rhythm and dominated the Angels for the remainder of his outing.
He limited Los Angeles to just four baserunners after the first inning, once again demonstrating the elite command and swing-and-miss ability that have made him one of baseball’s premier pitchers.
However, by the conclusion of the fifth inning, the tightness in his left side had noticeably increased.
Rather than risk further injury, both deGrom and the coaching staff agreed that ending his outing at that point was the safest decision.
Confident About Next Start
Despite the concern surrounding his early exit, deGrom insisted he is not expecting to miss any time.
The Rangers ace expressed confidence that additional treatment, recovery work and careful monitoring over the coming days will allow him to remain on schedule.
He suggested that recent off-days may have contributed to the unusual stiffness and believes the issue can be managed successfully before his next turn in the rotation.
For a Rangers club relying heavily on its veteran ace, deGrom’s positive outlook provides welcome reassurance.
First-Inning Struggles Continue
While the health concern attracted significant attention after the game, deGrom was more frustrated by another recurring issue—his struggles during the opening inning.
The Angels scored two runs in the first, continuing an unusual trend that has followed the veteran throughout the 2026 season.
Following Tuesday’s outing, deGrom’s first-inning ERA climbed to 9.50, with 19 of the 39 earned runs he has allowed this season coming during the opening frame.
That means nearly half of all runs surrendered by the Rangers ace this year have occurred before he has fully settled into games.
Once he moves beyond the first inning, however, deGrom has continued to pitch at an elite level, consistently shutting down opposing hitters and giving Texas an opportunity to win.
Veteran Takes Responsibility
DeGrom did not shy away from addressing the trend after the victory.
The veteran acknowledged that allowing early runs has placed unnecessary pressure on both himself and the Rangers’ offense, admitting he must find a way to begin games more effectively.
Fortunately for Texas, the lineup responded immediately on Tuesday, erasing the early deficit before pulling away for an 8-3 victory.
While deGrom praised the offense for battling back, he emphasized that his personal goal is to eliminate first-inning mistakes and avoid forcing the Rangers to play from behind.
Rangers Hoping Ace Remains Healthy
With the second half of the season approaching and postseason positioning becoming increasingly important, the Rangers will continue closely monitoring deGrom’s condition over the coming days.
If his hip and leg discomfort improves as expected, Texas anticipates having its ace back on the mound for his next scheduled start.
For now, both the organization and deGrom remain optimistic that the issue is simply a temporary setback rather than a significant injury, allowing the Rangers to keep one of their most valuable pitchers at the center of their playoff push.
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