Jacob deGrom Exits After 2 Innings With Triceps Fatigue in Anaheim

Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom left Thursday's game against the Angels after allowing two runs and six hits across two innings of work.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom exited Thursday night's contest against the Los Angeles Angels after completing just 2.0 innings of work due to right triceps fatigue. The veteran starter surrendered two earned runs and six hits while recording three strikeouts and one walk across 49 total pitches. His departure occurred prior to the start of the third inning, with the Rangers trailing 2-0 at Angel Stadium. This abbreviated outing forced the Texas bullpen into immediate action, as right-hander Peyton Gray was summoned to take the mound for the bottom of the third.

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The second inning proved particularly taxing for the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who labored through a 32-pitch frame. During that sequence, the Angels tallied five hits, marking the first instance since September 5, 2017—back when deGrom was a member of the New York Mets—that he had allowed five hits in a single inning. Despite escaping a first-inning jam that featured two runners on base with only one out, the right-hander could not navigate the subsequent inning unscathed as the Los Angeles offense capitalized on elevated pitch counts.

Statistically, the Jacob deGrom injury situation highlights a recurring struggle against this specific American League West opponent. Over three starts against the Angels this season, the righty has surrendered 10 earned runs in just 10 innings of work. Furthermore, the early exit stalled his pursuit of a significant career milestone; entering the night with 1,995 strikeouts, his three punchouts on Thursday brought his career total to 1,998. He remains just two strikeouts shy of becoming the 94th player in Major League Baseball history and the ninth active pitcher to reach the 2,000-strikeout plateau.

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This medical setback adds further strain to a Texas Rangers rotation already grappling with significant health issues. The team recently placed Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his pitching elbow, leaving the defending World Series champions without their top two arms. DeGrom himself had been managing a left hip and glute issue since the All-Star break, though the triceps fatigue represents a new area of concern for the 38-year-old. The Rangers medical staff will likely evaluate the severity of the fatigue before determining if a stint on the injured list is required.

In the opening frame, deGrom showed flashes of his typical dominance, utilizing his fastball and slider to strand runners, but his velocity and command appeared to waver as the pitch count climbed in the second. The six hits allowed matched a season-high for the right-hander in a single game, despite the short duration of his appearance. Gray, his replacement, inherited a two-run deficit and the responsibility of preserving a taxed relief corps that has seen increased usage over the last week of play.

As the game progressed into the middle innings, the focus remained on the dugout where trainers monitored the pitcher's throwing arm. The Rangers have not yet provided a timeline for his next start, as triceps issues often require a period of rest to prevent more serious structural damage to the elbow or shoulder. For a Texas team fighting to remain relevant in the postseason race, the loss of their ace for any extended period would necessitate a significant reshuffling of the pitching staff, potentially involving call-ups from Triple-A Round Rock. The final line for deGrom—2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts—serves as a stark outlier for a pitcher who usually maintains high efficiency through the middle stages of a ballgame.