Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are both set to make their next starts for the Texas Rangers, though the specifics of when and where are still being determined.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy mentioned on Sunday at Globe Life Field that there’s some flexibility in scheduling. “We’re still working out the details and deciding how we want to proceed,” he said.
With their return, the Rangers will have six starting pitchers, including Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Cody Bradford, and Jack Leiter. The team plans to give Leiter a month-long opportunity in the rotation before next season. Eovaldi, Heaney, and Bradford have been the most reliable starters this year.
Bochy noted, “[We’re] planning out the rest of the season and will finalize things in a couple of days.”
Eovaldi and Bradford are set to pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners starting Thursday. Scherzer might start the series opener against Seattle, and deGrom mentioned the possibility of having six to seven days off between his final rehab start and his MLB return.
Both Scherzer and deGrom excelled in their recent rehab outings: Scherzer threw four no-hit innings with eight strikeouts at Triple-A Round Rock, while deGrom pitched four one-hit innings with five strikeouts at Double-A Frisco.
Scherzer hasn’t pitched for Texas since July 30 due to arm fatigue, and deGrom, who has been sidelined since June of the previous year following elbow surgery, had a 0.84 ERA in his rehab appearances.
DeGrom expressed his enthusiasm about returning, saying, “I’m excited. It’s been a long road back. I’m ready to help this team however I can. There are still some things to work out, but I’m eager to get back into big league games and face big league hitters.”
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