BALTIMORE — The Rangers anticipate Jacob deGrom starting on Tuesday against Baltimore.
Manager Skip Schumaker held off on making the decision definitive, wanting to wait to see how deGrom wakes up Tuesday, given the stiff neck that scratched him from his scheduled start Saturday at Philadelphia. But deGrom reported significant improvement over the last two days and threw some pitches off a mound Monday.
“He felt really good today, but that’s about what I’ve got for you,” Schumaker said. “He threw down the slope and felt good.”
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The Rangers plan was to have Kumar Rocker available in the bullpen on Monday, but he could otherwise have his first start skipped. That would keep Nathan Eovaldi on track to finish the Baltimore series and the Rangers could move McKenzie Gore, who made a strong first start, to Friday’s home opener. Gore would be pitching on four days’ rest.
Then things get a little sketchy. It’s not clear if Rocker would start the second game against Cincinnati or if the Rangers would slot Jacob Latz there or push the fifth starter back another couple of days. The Rangers would like to avoid a Rocker vs. Seattle matchup during the two weeks that encompass two series between the teams from April 6-19. Rocker has struggled to hold baserunners and Seattle is very aggressive on that front.
But, at the moment, the most important needs for the Rangers are working deGrom back into the rotation and preserving fresh arms in the bullpen. It may make the fifth starter’s role a very fluid situation for the first month.