The Texas Rangers suffered a major scare Thursday night when veteran ace Jacob deGrom was forced to leave his start against the Los Angeles Angels after only two innings because of tightness and fatigue in his right triceps.
DeGrom entered the game at Angel Stadium hoping to help Texas stop a difficult stretch, but his outing ended far earlier than expected. The Rangers ultimately suffered a 7-0 shutout loss, while the bigger concern became the condition of their star pitcher.
The 38-year-old right-hander threw 53 pitches over two innings. He surrendered six hits and two earned runs, issued one walk and struck out three batters before the Rangers decided not to allow him to continue. It was only the third start of deGrom’s career in which he failed to complete more than two innings.
The issue surfaced during the second inning, when deGrom began experiencing tightness in the back of his throwing arm. Rather than risk turning a relatively minor problem into a more serious injury, the Rangers removed him from the game.
DeGrom later indicated that he did not believe the problem was particularly serious. He explained that he felt the tightness during the second inning but believed he could have continued pitching if the situation had required it. The club, however, preferred to take the cautious approach, especially given deGrom’s extensive injury history.
Manager Skip Schumaker also emphasized that the early removal was precautionary and that the team needed further medical information before determining the seriousness of the issue. DeGrom was expected to undergo imaging to determine whether there was any structural damage.
The timing is particularly important for Texas. DeGrom has emerged as one of the Rangers’ most important rotation pieces, and the club’s pitching depth has already been tested by injuries. Nathan Eovaldi has also dealt with injury issues, while Jack Leiter has been unavailable, leaving Texas with fewer reliable options behind its established starters.
The injury scare also came at an unfortunate point in deGrom’s season. Just days earlier, he had delivered one of his strongest performances of the year, striking out nine Orioles while allowing only one run over five innings in a 5-1 Rangers victory. That outing improved his record to 8-7 and demonstrated why Texas continues to view him as a centerpiece of its pitching staff.
Despite the early exit against Los Angeles, deGrom’s overall 2026 season has remained productive. Before Thursday’s outing, he had been working to provide the Rangers with consistent innings after returning from the major elbow injury that cost him most of the 2023 season and a significant portion of the following campaign.
The latest setback therefore carries significance beyond a single game. DeGrom has already undergone Tommy John surgery and other elbow-related treatment during his career, making any new discomfort in his throwing arm something the Rangers are likely to monitor extremely closely.
The Rangers are also fighting for their postseason lives, which makes the situation even more consequential. Texas entered the game in a difficult stretch and fell further behind in the American League playoff race following the loss. The club’s need for deGrom to remain healthy is especially pronounced with the regular season entering its final stretch.
There was another notable subplot to the night. DeGrom entered the game just two strikeouts shy of 2,000 for his career. Had he remained in the game and reached the milestone, it would have added another memorable achievement to his decorated career. Instead, the early departure left that accomplishment waiting for his next appearance.
The Angels took advantage of deGrom’s shortened outing and eventually pulled away. Los Angeles finished with 15 hits, including a three-hit performance from Mike Trout, while rookie starter Walbert Ureña held the Rangers to two hits over six scoreless innings. The Angels scored four runs in the fifth inning to turn the game into a rout before adding another run in the seventh.
For Texas, however, the final score became secondary to the uncertainty surrounding its ace.
At this stage, the Rangers do not appear to have confirmed a major structural injury, and deGrom himself remained optimistic that he would be able to make his next scheduled start. Still, the planned medical evaluation will be crucial because the difference between routine muscle fatigue and a more significant arm problem could have enormous implications for Texas.
The Rangers will likely proceed cautiously while waiting for the results of the examination. If the scans show no serious damage, deGrom could potentially return to his normal throwing schedule after receiving additional rest. If the issue proves more significant, however, Texas could be forced to rearrange its rotation and rely more heavily on its bullpen and depth starters.
For a team attempting to stay in the postseason race, the health of deGrom may be one of the most important storylines of the final weeks of the season. His ability to return quickly and pitch effectively could determine how competitive the Rangers remain down the stretch.
For now, the encouraging element is that deGrom did not report a belief that the problem was severe. Nevertheless, given his history and the importance of his right arm to the Rangers’ playoff hopes, the organization will have little reason to take chances until the medical evaluation provides greater clarity.
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