WEST SACRAMENTO -- After getting good news on Saturday, Rangers starter Jacob deGrom was right not to be too concerned about the right triceps injury that forced him from Thursday’s start in Anaheim after just two innings.
Still, though, the issue is likely to impact deGrom’s pitching schedule and the Rangers’ beleaguered rotation as a whole. Manager Skip Schumaker said Texas will weigh its options with the veteran right-hander, with pushing back deGrom’s next start (scheduled for Wednesday against the Nationals) one possibility.
Asked about the chances deGrom would start on time against Washington at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, Schumaker didn’t sound overly optimistic.
“I guess it’s possible,” he said. “I don’t know how realistic it is, but I think it’s always possible. We haven’t ruled it out completely.”
It would be the second time deGrom’s turn through the rotation was impacted in 2026: Nursing a hip/glute injury, he skipped his final start of the first half. His recent durability, though, has been an asset to the Rangers. After missing nearly all of 2023 and 2024 following Tommy John surgery, deGrom has not required a stint on the injured list since. He was an All-Star in 2025, making 30 starts with a 2.97 ERA, and he has made 23 starts in ’26 with a 3.95 ERA.
After leaving Thursday’s outing at Angel Stadium with fatigue in his triceps, deGrom was sent for imaging on Friday. The 15-year veteran felt better on Saturday, although he had yet to resume playing catch.
“Things can change in a hurry, obviously, with the way Jacob feels, but he feels pretty good,” Schumaker said. “That was a really good conversation with the medical department and with Jacob.”
When deGrom can take the ball again for Texas significantly impacts the rehab timeline for right-hander Jack Leiter, who is currently on the 60-day injured list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a right ankle posterior impingement.
Leiter, who threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab outing on Thursday for Triple-A Round Rock, rejoined the Rangers in West Sacramento for the club’s series against the A’s.
“Jack was efficient,” Schumaker said. “Fastball had life at the top, which we wanted to see. The slider underneath the lefty barrel was really good. The changeup was effective. The main thing is, he felt good. That’s the No. 1 question we have. No issue arm-wise or ankle-wise, so that part was good news.”
The Rangers had initially planned for Leiter, who threw only 48 pitches, to build up further with another rehab start. But with the uncertainty in their rotation -- Nathan Eovaldi landed on the IL on Monday with right posterior elbow inflammation before deGrom’s issue cropped up -- Texas could choose to activate Leiter sooner. If not, the Rangers have righty Cal Quantrill and lefty Jordan Montgomery to fill the vacancies in their rotation as needed.
As of Saturday, what the Rangers will opt to do with Leiter remains “day to day” while the club monitors deGrom, Schumaker said. Either way, a slumping team will await the return of its $185 million ace as soon as he is fully healthy.