7 days agoTexas Rangers right-hander
Jacob deGrom (illness) has been scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants due to a stomach virus, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Hopefully, the 36-year-old veteran will be able to get back on the mound in a few days for what will only be his second spring training game after he threw 31 pitches in his debut last weekend. The two-time Cy Young winner still has the stuff to be a fantasy ace if he's healthy, but the caveat is that he's started only nine games in the last two seasons due to arm injuries and will be eased in early in 2025 to preserve his health throughout the season. Additionally, deGrom plans to back off a bit on his velocity in order to try and preserve his health. deGrom hasn't gone over 100 innings pitched in a season since 2019 with the New York Mets.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
1 week agoTexas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said on Foul Territory on Wednesday that the team will slow-play right-hander
Jacob deGrom's workload this year in order to get the most starts out of him at the end of the season. "If we have to skip a start or put him on the IL to keep him fresh, we'll do that," Bochy said. In addition to his workload being managed, the 36-year-old veteran also plans to dial back his velocity in an effort to stay healthy for the long run. For what it's worth, he was sitting at 97 mph in his first Cactus League outing. deGrom returned from Tommy John surgery late last year to make three starts and allowed just two earned runs in 10 2/3 innings while striking out 14 and walking one. He averaged just over 97 mph in those three outings as well. deGrom was an elite fantasy starter before his second Tommy John surgery. There's risk and a lowered fantasy ceiling because of workload restrictions, but when he's on, he still has the upside of a No. 1 starter.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Foul Territory
2 weeks agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom is not looking to maximize his velocity during the upcoming season. deGrom spent the majority of the 2024 campaign sidelined after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2023. However, the two-time Cy Young winner is looking to slightly decrease his velocity to ensure he remains healthy during the entire 2025 campaign. When he returned to the majors at the end of the 2024 season, he is fastball averaged just over 97 mph. However, during the prime of his career, deGrom's fastball typically sat around 99 mph. He recently made his spring training debut and tossed two shutout frames. When on the mound, deGrom has been one of the most effective pitchers in the sport. As a result, fantasy managers should view deGrom as a high-end SP2 heading into 2025 given the elite upside he carries despite the injury risk. If he can continue to lower his velocity and remain dominant, he could put himself at a much lower injury risk while providing elite fantasy production.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Victory+
2 weeks agoThe Texas Rangers plan to use right-hander
Jacob deGrom at "the back end" of their starting rotation when the 2025 regular season begins later this month, according to manager Bruce Bochy. It means that deGrom, who made only three starts in 2024 after Tommy John surgery, might not pitch in the opening series against the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field. The Rangers want to give the oft-injured two-time Cy Young winner plenty of time to rest early in the year. It's possible the 36-year-old veteran doesn't make his season debut until March 30 against the Cincinnati Reds. It shouldn't come as a huge surprise, as deGrom has yet to make his Cactus League debut (it will come on Friday) after throwing his first bullpen session of the spring on Saturday. deGrom has proven to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he's made only nine starts for Texas since signing a five-year, $185 million deal before the 2023 season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Dallas Morning News - Shawn McFarland
RADIO
