UPDATE: Jacob deGrom is experiencing a major setback, marking over a month without a win for the Texas Rangers. The All-Star pitcher faced the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, suffering a 4-0 loss that left him visibly frustrated.
DeGrom, who had his last victory on July 22, struggled significantly after the Rangers opted to skip his last scheduled start due to shoulder fatigue. In his return, he allowed a home run on the very first pitch of the game, signaling a tough night ahead.
The 37-year-old ace is now 0-4 in his last five starts, having pitched just 145 1/3 innings this season, his highest total since 2019. Despite a solid strikeout performance, with seven strikeouts, DeGrom’s inconsistency plagued his efforts as he threw 90 pitches, only 56 of which were strikes.
“Tonight just was inconsistent the whole time. Missed with a lot of sliders, missed with fastballs,” deGrom stated, emphasizing his frustration with the game. “Just kind of all over the place.”
DeGrom’s last win came against the Athletics, where he allowed just one run over six innings. Since then, he has been unable to recapture that form, raising concerns as the Rangers fight for a wild-card spot with less than five weeks remaining in the regular season.
His performance on August 15 was particularly notable, where he pitched five scoreless innings against Toronto but did not receive a decision. “The bullpen in between felt really good, warming up felt good, and then go out there and just not able to throw the ball where I want to,” he lamented.
Manager Bruce Bochy remains optimistic, stating, “He’ll keep making his starts until we think he needs a break like we just gave him a break. He’s healthy, he feels good. As long as that’s the case, he’s going to be out there.”
As deGrom aims to regain his rhythm, he knows the importance of consistency in the coming games. “The goal is to take the ball as many times as I can, and feel good,” he said. The Rangers, facing mounting pressure, will look to deGrom to turn things around and help secure a playoff spot.
With the season nearing its end, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if deGrom can break his winless streak and lead the Rangers back into contention.
