UPDATE: Jacob deGrom’s winless streak has now extended to over a month, as the Texas Rangers fell 4-0 to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. This disappointing outcome marks deGrom’s fifth start since his last victory on July 22, leaving the All-Star pitcher visibly frustrated.
In his first game back after a 10-day hiatus due to shoulder fatigue, deGrom surrendered a home run on the very first pitch, setting the tone for a challenging evening. The 37-year-old veteran struck out seven but allowed two runs on three hits, needing 90 pitches (56 strikes) to get through five innings. “Tonight just was inconsistent the whole time,” deGrom stated, reflecting on his performance. “Just kind of all over the place, so that was frustrating.”
DeGrom’s struggles come at a critical time for the Rangers, who are desperately vying for a wild-card spot with less than five weeks remaining in the regular season. He is currently 0-4 since his last win, a stretch that has seen him miss several key opportunities to help secure victories for his team.
This outing was particularly disappointing given that deGrom had thrown five scoreless innings in his previous start against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 15, only to see the Rangers lose 6-5 after he exited. Despite feeling physically ready for his 25th start of the season, the results have not matched his expectations.
The Rangers’ management remains optimistic. Manager Bruce Bochy reassured fans, 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.”
With nearly 145 1/3 innings pitched this year, deGrom is nearing his highest workload since 2019. However, the lingering shadows of past injuries from his time with the New York Mets continue to impact his performance.
As the Rangers continue their playoff push, all eyes will be on deGrom in his upcoming starts. He expressed hope to pitch every fifth game, stating, “The goal is to take the ball as many times as I can, and feel good.” Fans will be eager to see if he can turn around his fortunes and help lead the Rangers back into contention.
Stay tuned for updates on deGrom’s performance and the Rangers’ pursuit of a playoff spot as the season draws to a close.