The Texas Rangers’ chances of reaching the 2024 postseason are nearly gone. As of Monday, they hold a 60-71 record and are 12.5 games behind the American League’s wild card spots. With only 31 games left in the season, overcoming this deficit seems almost impossible. Fangraphs currently gives them a slim 0.2 percent chance of making the playoffs, accurately reflecting their position in the standings. However, Rangers fans might still find some incentive to watch the final games of the season, despite the disappointment of a lost year.
During a guest appearance on MLB Network Radio, Rangers general manager Chris Young shared that veteran starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who has been sidelined for the entire 2024 season so far, is making significant progress towards a return to the majors. deGrom has been out due to a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery.
“He’s not far from rejoining the major league team. We’ll evaluate his next Triple-A outing and plan a careful approach for him to pitch through September, helping him get back to form for 2025,” Young said, as reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
With just 31 games remaining in the Rangers’ season, Jacob deGrom might make up to five or six starts before the year ends. This would allow him to regain game speed after his last appearance on April 28, 2023, and give Texas a glimpse of his condition after a challenging three seasons plagued by injuries.
At 36 years old, deGrom faces challenges from both injuries and age-related decline, which could impact his future performance. However, his impressive track record of elite pitching means his return will likely attract attention, even from Rangers fans who may have lost interest following a disappointing World Series defense.
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