PHILADELPHIA -- Rangers ace Jacob deGrom has been scratched from his 2026 debut start on Saturday afternoon against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park due to neck stiffness.
It’s a cautionary move for deGrom, who could potentially still make a start on this season-opening road trip between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Swingman Jacob Latz -- who had a 2.72 ERA in eight spot starts last season -- will make Saturday’s start for Texas.
deGrom was slated to start the second game of the season, with co-ace Nathan Eovaldi getting the Opening Day nod so that deGrom could start the home opener on April 3 against the Reds in Arlington. It’s unclear how the rest of the rotation lines up at the moment.
deGrom -- now in his fourth year with the Rangers -- was an All-Star in 2025, posting a 2.97 ERA in 172 2/3 innings in his first full year after Tommy John surgery. He made 30 starts while eclipsing 100 innings for the first time since his National League Cy Young Award-winning season with the Mets in 2019.