ARLINGTON — Picture this: Jacob deGrom, on the Citi Field mound, with a chance to help improve his team’s hopeful playoff position as the regular season nears its end.
It’s just how the New York Mets — er, sorry, the Texas Rangers — drew it up.
The 37-year-old will return to Queens, N.Y. this weekend for the first time as a healthy pitcher when the Rangers begin a three-game series against the Mets. He’s scheduled to start Friday night’s series opener opposite rookie right-hander Jonah Tong in what will be his first start at Citi Field since he signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers prior to the 2023 season.
“It’s where my career started,” said deGrom, who made his big league debut at Citi Field, pitched nine seasons for the Mets and helped lead the team to the World Series a decade ago. “It holds a special place in my heart. That’s where it all started. It’ll be fun.”
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The two-time Cy Young award winner last pitched at Citi Field on Sep. 18, 2022 vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has a career 2.12 ERA in 109 starts at Citi Field and is the all-time leader in innings (696 2/3) and strikeouts (899) at the 16-year-old ballpark.
“I pitched a lot there,” deGrom said, “and Mets fans were always good to me.”
And now?
“Now I’m on the other side,” he said. “It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”
It will, at the very least, provide the guarantee of a meaningful three days of baseball. The Rangers were one game behind the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s third Wild Card position and two games behind the Houston Astros in the division as of Wednesday afternoon. The Mets have a two-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the National League’s third Wild Card position and are three games behind the San Diego Padres.
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“All of these games for us are very important,” deGrom said. “Same for them with the spot that they’re in. It’s going to be fun. We’ve got to win, they’ve got to win, so it’s going to be a playoff atmosphere.”
The Rangers last visited the Mets in August of 2023 when deGrom, then in the first year of his contract, was sidelined after elbow surgery. He was still on the injured list when the Mets visited Globe Life Field last June for a three-game series.
He’ll now reintroduce himself at full force.
The lanky right-hander has a 2.78 ERA in 27 starts this season which ranks ninth among qualified starters leaguewide. His 155 2/3 innings are the most he’s thrown in a single season since 2019 and more than his last three campaigns combined.
“I’m sure he’s looking forward to it,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “With what he did for the Mets, how much time he spent there, I’m sure he’s probably going to have some memories and emotions even before he pitches. This is the first time he’s been back, I know there has to be some excitement for him.”
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