A premature exit fueled by triceps tightness leaves the Texas Rangers reeling in the postseason hunt as Jacob deGrom faces an uncertain recovery.
Jacob deGrom’s start Thursday night lasted only two innings before right triceps fatigue forced him out of the Texas Rangers’ 7-0 loss against the Los Angeles Angels.
An unexpected loss
The defeat capped a disappointing series in Anaheim, where Texas dropped three of four games and left Angel Stadium with a 60-62 record.
The Rangers remain firmly involved in the postseason race, but their margin for error continues shrinking.
The Detroit Tigers sit half a game ahead of Texas for the final American League Wild Card spot, while the Houston Astros lead them by three games in the American League West.
DeGrom allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk during his abbreviated outing. He’s two strikeouts shy of 2,000.
Five of those six hits came during a difficult second inning.
According to The Dallas Morning News, deGrom took responsibility afterward, acknowledging that Texas needed the victory and that he blamed himself for his performance.
“We needed to win,” deGrom said.
“I take blame for tonight.”
The Rangers never provided any offensive support.
DeGrom escaped trouble in the first inning, but Los Angeles broke through in the second.
Denzer Guzmán opened the inning with a single before Josh Lowe doubled, putting runners at second and third.
Adam Frazier followed with a one-out single that scored Guzmán. Lowe also attempted to score, but Wyatt Langford threw him out at the plate from left field.
Wade Meckler added a two-out single before Mike Trout drove in Frazier with another single.
The inning required 32 pitches from deGrom.
He has had only one longer inning this season, a 34-pitch first inning on May 22, also at Angel Stadium.
It also marked the first time since Sept. 5, 2017 that deGrom allowed at least five hits in one inning.
Velocity was not an issue
There were no obvious warning signs in his velocity.
According to Statcast, deGrom reached 99 mph, generated 10 swings and misses, and all five of his pitches registered above their season-average velocity.
The concern instead came from his right triceps.
DeGrom said the muscle tightened during the second inning and never fully loosened. Although he believed he could return for the third, the Rangers decided not to take the risk.
He indicated afterward that he was not overly concerned and remained hopeful of making his next start, although he acknowledged that he had never experienced that type of tightness before.
“I’m not too concerned,” deGrom explained.
“Hopefully I’ll make my next [start], we’ll see. Tonight, it just — there in the second it was tight and just didn’t want to loosen up. I haven’t really had that before.”
Texas sent deGrom for an MRI yesterday. As of this writing, the results haven’t been revealed.
Why Rangers need deGrom
Beyond the immediate injury concern, deGrom remains one of the most important players on the Rangers’ roster.
His competitiveness, preparation and willingness to accept responsibility continue to stand out, particularly during a difficult stretch for the team.
He also possesses the mentality expected from a frontline starter. Even when his velocity remains intact and the underlying stuff looks strong, deGrom evaluates himself by whether he gave Texas a chance to win.
His ability to generate elite velocity, miss bats and command multiple pitches gives him the tools to dominate when healthy. Just as important is his experience navigating pressure and understanding when something physically does not feel normal.
For Texas, the priority is making sure the triceps issue does not become something more serious. The Rangers need deGrom healthy for both the Wild Card race and their pursuit of Houston in the division.
