With a postseason berth within reach, Jacob deGrom’s late-season collapse left the Texas Rangers vulnerable, squandering a prime opportunity to win the American League West.
The Texas Rangers’ failure to reach the postseason this year is particularly difficult to excuse because the Houston Astros won the American League West with an 81-81 record.
Texas finished 80-82, one game behind Houston, and missed October baseball for a third consecutive season after winning the 2023 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Everything went wrong
The Rangers entered the final day with one remaining path to the division title. They needed to defeat the Minnesota Twins on Sunday and have the Astros lose to the Athletics because Houston owned the season-series tiebreaker.
Neither result happened. Texas lost 6-4, while Houston secured the division with a 9-0 victory.
The Rangers finished 35-46 away from home and went 51-53 against teams with losing records. Those shortcomings belonged to the entire team, but ace Jacob deGrom left a particularly significant void when Texas needed its difference-maker most.
The defining performance of deGrom’s season came Friday in Minnesota. The Rangers scored twice in the first inning and provided him with an early advantage, but the Twins responded with six runs in the second.
deGrom allowed eight runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks in four innings in a 10-2 loss. Houston also lost that night, leaving the Rangers with a wasted opportunity to take control of the division race.
The veteran accomplished plenty during the season. deGrom recorded 201 strikeouts in 162.2 innings over 31 starts and produced several dominant outings.
However, he finished 11-11 with a 4.20 ERA, representing a considerable decline from the 2.97 ERA he recorded in 172.2 innings across 30 starts during the 2025 season.
deGrom was especially ineffective over his final two starts, precisely when the Rangers needed him most. He went 0-2 with a 12.22 ERA and 2.47 WHIP in 8.1 innings, allowing 11 runs with seven strikeouts and seven walks.
Two starts did not determine everything that happened throughout a 162-game schedule. However, an ace performing below his established standard with the division at stake remains deeply disappointing.
deGrom’s importance
deGrom’s ability to dominate through exceptional command, explosive pitches and a fearless approach was missing in his last two starts. At his best, he controls the pace of games and forces hitters to react to him.
He also carries the mentality required to lead a rotation, but he struggled with this as of late and the results reflect that.
deGrom expects excellence from himself and understands the responsibility attached to pitching in important games. He knows he failed the Rangers late in the year.
His competitiveness and preparation have made him one of MLB’s most respected starters. He usually does not avoid difficult assignments or surrender his confidence after adversity.
This is why his late struggles were so costly. Texas counted on deGrom to deliver stability during its most important stretch. His talent remains undeniable, but an ace is ultimately judged by whether he can provide his best work when the season depends on it.
