ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom is set to face hitters for the first time since an elbow operation last year, and Tyler Mahle is on the verge of his first start for the Texas Rangers as he returns from Tommy John surgery in 2023.
The languishing Rangers need the reinforcements for a pitching staff that has dealt with injuries all season, but the defending World Series champions know the medical considerations come first.
“They’re not going to let you go before you’re supposed to,” deGrom said Saturday after what was supposed to be the final bullpen session for the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner before facing hitters. “The goal’s to get out there and help this team. Obviously I’ve been zero help this year, so the goal is to get out there and help us. Hopefully that’s not too far away.”
Mahle, a right-hander who signed a $22 million, two-year contract last fall, should be days from a return after six rehab starts in the minor leagues.
Texas went into the second game of a three-game series against visiting Boston trailing 5 1/2 games in the AL West and by nine in the wild card race, with losses in six of seven games coming off a five-game winning streak that matched a season best.
During the latest skid, starters Jon Gray and Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner, landed on the 15-day injured list.
Gray strained his right groin while warming up and didn’t throw a pitch last Sunday at Toronto. Scherzer, who missed most of the first three months recovering from offseason back surgery, already had been dealing with right shoulder fatigue before going on the IL because of that issue.
“There’s nothing else I can do except go out and pitch and compete and try to win ballgames,” said Mahle, who is set to face Houston at home early next week. “If I try to do anything more, that’s when had things happen. I’ve got to go on the mound and get outs. That’s it.”
The Texas rotation is as unsettled as it has been all season, which is saying something considering the injuries.
Left-hander Cody Bradford, who opened the season with victories in three consecutive starts and then missed 3 1/2 months with a low back strain, wasn’t announced as the Saturday starter against the Red Sox until the day of the game. It was to be his second appearance since returning.
Nathan Eovaldi starts Sunday, but the Rangers haven’t revealed the plan for the Houston series.
Mahle’s elbow injury limited the 29-year-old to five starts for Minnesota last year. DeGrom made just six starts for the Rangers before his second major elbow surgery.
While it seems unlikely deGrom will make as many rehab starts as Mahle, manager Bruce Bochy isn’t ready to talk timeline with the 36-year-old right-hander just yet.
“You stick with the plan,” Bochy said. “With those guys, they’re set to go. Mahle, he looks great. He’s ready to pitch up here. We stuck with the plan with him. We’re going to do the same with Jacob. I can’t tell you how many rehab outings he’ll have. But we’ll go as he goes.”
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