Rangers are getting the full NY Mets experience with Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom, now 38, is in year four of five with a possibility of a sixth with the Texas Rangers. Still in the Hall of Fame discussion with a lifetime 2.63 ERA and the best strikeout to walk ratio in MLB history at 5.38, the former New York Mets ace is giving the Rangers the full experience in 2026.

Years one and two included 6 and 3 starts respectively. Last year, deGrom returned fully healthy and pitched to a 2.97 ERA. At 81-81, they looked a lot more like the Mets teams in the prime of deGrom’s years in New York.

This season had a chance to be a little different. While he’s not quite as elite at 7-5 with a 3.49 ERA, deGrom has made 18 starts and continues to be a workhorse each time out. Unfortunately, the Rangers aren’t sure when he’ll make his next start. This time, it’s a mild left glute strain which could land him on the IL.

The frustrating side of Jacob deGrom is showing up for the Rangers

At 49-47, it’s the Rangers who lead the AL West but not by much. The Seattle Mariners are 48-49. The Houston Astros are 47-51.  They’re downplaying the severity of the injury. This is what deGrom had to say:

“I told [a team doctor] it’s something I can pitch with, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, it’s in an area where it’s not really going to get worse, it’s just what you can deal with.’  I said I can deal with it right now, and then the discussion becomes, do we take this extra time because we have it?”

It was on July 7 when deGrom made his final start for the 2021 Mets. Ironically, that was his last outing with the Rangers, too. The prognosis on deGrom then wasn’t immediately a bad one. Although it was an arm injury, the team and player didn’t seem overly concerned with an IL stint delayed until later in July. We wouldn’t see him pitch another MLB game until August 2 of the following season.

Just because deGrom can pitch throw the pain doesn’t mean he necessarily should. This injury is much different than the one he had with the 2021 Mets, but the result could end up the same. Overcompensating in other ways could cause a brand new injury if deGrom forces himself out there when he’s not actually ready. If the Rangers want to learn anything from the Mets’ mistake from 2021, it’s to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Crossing over 100 innings with his most recent start, it was only the second time post-2019 that deGrom reached triple digits. Last year was the other time. His 2021 season ended after 92 frames spanning 15 starts. The date of their final starts of the first half, however, feels like a glitch in the matrix somewhere. Texas’ decision to sign deGrom to his massive contract hasn’t worked out incredibly well because of the missing time. This year, even not at his best, was trending toward becoming the most rewarding.

On July 7, 2021, the Mets finished the day 46-38 with a 4.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals. They finished 77-85 without deGrom. Rangers fans cancelling October plans, you’ve been warned.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow