ARLINGTON — The Rangers gained one Florida-born star shortly before the All-Star break but might’ve lost another.
Rangers right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom has a mild left glute strain, manager Skip Schumaker said, and will not make his scheduled start against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field Sunday afternoon. Schumaker isn’t sure if deGrom will be available to pitch “right away” after the All-Star break, either, as the team has yet to determine whether he’ll need time on the injured list to address the issue.
“Anything with a hip, or lower half, or arm, you’re definitely concerned,” Schumaker said. “We had a conversation with him, and the way he’s feeling today is better, but you never know until a couple more days of rehab and how he feels. I think the All-Star break is at the right time for him to recover.”
The Rangers have shuffled their best position players on and off of their active roster for the last month. Shortstop Corey Seager has played only six games in the last month and remains day-to-day with lower back inflammation while left fielder Wyatt Langford returned from a hamstring strain before Thursday’s win.
They’ll now need to determine whether deGrom will need to join the list of sidelined stars. His placement on the injured list, if necessary, can be backdated a maximum of three days. If the Rangers were to place deGrom on the injured list Saturday, it can be backdated to Wednesday, and because injured list days do count during the All-Star break, he could return as early as July 23. He has a 3.49 ERA in 18 starts this season and has not needed an injured list stint since he returned from elbow surgery nearly two years ago.
The Rangers have not yet determined who will start — or if a bullpen game is in order — in his place. They’re already shorthanded in the rotation with right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter on the injured list after ankle surgery. Only three pitchers who opened the season in the rotation are healthy, and Friday, they started right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill for a third straight turn. Schumaker said that left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery — who has made four minor league rehab starts on his way back from elbow surgery — is not an option to start Sunday’s series finale.