Experienced pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are set to return to the Texas Rangers’ rotation today
Veteran pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer will return to the Texas Rangers’ rotation later this week after both missed time due to injuries.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy announced on Tuesday that deGrom is scheduled to pitch on Friday and Scherzer on Saturday. The Rangers are still in the race for an American League playoff spot, but they are six games behind for the final wild-card position.
“They might go for around five innings or 60 pitches, depending on how things are going,” Bochy said. “If all goes well, they might pitch a bit longer.”
DeGrom, 36, will make his season debut after missing more than a year following Tommy John surgery. He has had five consecutive seasons troubled by injuries.
His last game for the Rangers was on April 28, 2023, after signing a $185 million, five-year contract. He had surgery six weeks later.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been out for about six weeks due to a shoulder injury. He has also dealt with back surgery and a thumb injury. The 40-year-old has a record of 2-4 with a 3.89 ERA in eight starts this season.
The Rangers will also have top prospect Kumar Rocker start on Thursday. The 24-year-old, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, will make his major league debut.
Selected 10th overall by the Mets in the 2021 MLB Draft, Rocker had a history of medical concerns that led to New York passing on signing him.
Undeterred, Rocker took an unusual route, signing with the independent Tri-City ValleyCats and maintaining his draft eligibility. His comeback story gained new life when the Rangers stunned the baseball world by picking him third overall in 2022.
However, his debut was delayed yet again when he needed Tommy John surgery, shelving him until July of this season.
But since returning to action, Rocker has dominated. In seven starts split between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a microscopic 0.91 ERA and held hitters to a .128 average. Rocker has a blazing fastball (98.7 mph average) and his command is sharper than ever (47 strikeouts to just three walks).
Rocker’s debut is pivotal for the reigning World Series champion Rangers, who are 70-74 heading into Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. FanGraphs gives Texas just a 0.7 percent chance to make the playoffs, but Rocker’s presence gives the Rangers hope that this season could be a one-year blip.
With veteran pitchers Max Scherzer, Andrew Heaney and potentially Nathan Eovaldi set to enter free agency, the Rangers will need a fresh arm to boost their rotation. Rocker fits the bill.
Thursday’s start in Seattle will mark just Rocker’s 17th appearance since being drafted. The immediate spotlight will be on his performance, but Rangers fans should focus on the big picture.
As Rangers GM Chris Young told Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, “He’s earned the opportunity… the ability to get major league experience will serve him well for next season.”
