The Texas Rangers will be without ace pitcher Jacob deGrom for his next scheduled outing after the veteran right-hander suffered a mild strain involving his left glute and hip. While the injury is not considered severe, the club is taking a cautious approach to ensure the two-time Cy Young Award winner has enough time to recover before returning to the mound.
The Rangers announced on Friday that deGrom will not make his planned start against the Houston Astros this weekend. Instead, the organization hopes that combining the skipped outing with the upcoming MLB All-Star break will provide enough rest to prevent the injury from becoming more serious.
At 38 years old, deGrom has remained one of the Rangers’ most valuable players this season despite dealing with occasional physical setbacks. His latest issue surfaced during Tuesday’s start, when he exited the game after throwing 80 pitches across five innings. Although he was effective during his outing, the discomfort in his left glute and hip prompted the coaching staff to remove him as a precaution.
Following that game, deGrom explained that the tightness and soreness were not entirely new. He revealed that he has experienced similar discomfort multiple times throughout his career, adding that the issue has often resolved itself with a short period of recovery. Initially, there was optimism that he would be ready for his next appearance, but additional evaluation convinced the Rangers that extra rest would be the wiser decision.
Manager Skip Schumaker emphasized that the organization is focused on deGrom’s long-term health rather than rushing him back onto the field. According to Schumaker, the club will closely monitor how the veteran responds over the coming days before making any decisions about his timeline.
For now, the Rangers have not placed deGrom on the injured list, though Schumaker acknowledged that it remains an option if his recovery does not progress as hoped. The team’s preference is to avoid that move altogether, believing that the timing of the All-Star break could allow deGrom to return without missing additional games beyond this scheduled start.
“We’re just going to wait and see how he recovers,” Schumaker said while discussing the situation. He added that the All-Star break arrives at an ideal time, giving deGrom several extra days to heal without forcing the Rangers to play many games without their ace.
The upcoming four-day break provides an important opportunity for recovery. Rather than trying to pitch through discomfort, deGrom will have nearly two weeks between starts if everything goes according to plan. That extended rest could prove sufficient for the strain to heal naturally, allowing him to resume his regular place in the rotation shortly after the break.
For Texas, protecting deGrom is especially important considering his history. Throughout his career, injuries have interrupted stretches of elite performance, and the Rangers have consistently prioritized caution whenever he experiences physical issues. Even relatively minor ailments are treated carefully to reduce the risk of more significant problems later in the season.
Despite those concerns, deGrom has delivered another productive campaign in 2026. Across 18 starts, he has compiled a 7-5 record while posting a solid 3.49 earned run average. He has continued to demonstrate the dominant pitching ability that made him one of baseball’s premier starters during his years with the New York Mets.
His performance has provided stability to the Rangers’ rotation, giving the club a reliable front-line starter capable of shutting down opposing offenses. When healthy, deGrom remains one of the most difficult pitchers in Major League Baseball to face thanks to his combination of elite velocity, command, and experience.
Losing him for even one start is not ideal, particularly against a division rival like the Astros. However, the Rangers believe the temporary absence is preferable to risking a more serious injury that could sideline him for a much longer period during the second half of the season.
The decision also reflects the team’s confidence in its pitching depth. While replacing a pitcher of deGrom’s caliber is never easy, Texas hopes another starter can step in and keep the rotation competitive until he is ready to return.
Medical staff will continue evaluating deGrom over the next several days, paying close attention to how the strained glute and hip respond to treatment and rest. If his condition improves as expected, he could avoid an injured-list stint entirely and rejoin the rotation shortly after the All-Star festivities conclude.
Should his recovery take longer than anticipated, the Rangers may reconsider placing him on the injured list to ensure he returns only when fully healthy. For now, though, the organization remains optimistic that skipping a single outing will be enough.
The Rangers are firmly focused on the bigger picture. With several months still remaining in the regular season, maintaining the health of their ace is viewed as far more valuable than asking him to pitch through discomfort in one game. The club hopes this cautious strategy will keep deGrom available for the stretch run and any potential postseason push.
For fans, the news is encouraging despite the temporary setback. The injury has been described as mild, and there is no indication of structural damage or a long-term concern. Instead, the emphasis is on allowing the veteran pitcher adequate time to recover naturally.
As the All-Star break approaches, all eyes will be on deGrom’s progress. If everything unfolds as the Rangers expect, he could return shortly after the league resumes play and continue serving as one of the anchors of Texas’ starting rotation for the remainder of the 2026 season.
